E. coli warning issued for Chattahoochee River

The heavy rain over the past several days has prompted a bacteria warning for the Chattahoochee River.

Sally Bethea of the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Organization, a watchdog group that monitors the river, said all the rain has increased E. coli levels in the water dramatically.

"Because you've got manholes overflowing, we've had reports from Roswell down to Atlanta, and it brings bacteria into our river," Bethea said.

According to the Chattahoochee Riverway Project, as of 8:15 p.m. Monday, the E. coli count in one part of the river was 1,495. The Environmental Protection Agency said a count of 235 is considered high.

Experts say once the rain stops and the sun starts shining, the levels should go back down to normal levels.

Officials said young children, anyone with cuts on their skin or people with weak immune systems should not go in the water until the levels go back down.

WSBTV