E Coli Metrics, More Slot Machines, and Cooling Station Radii
Cheers RVA!
Today will be very hot. A heat advisory is in effect with a heat index of 105-110. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Stay hydrated.
the juice:
The James River Watch recorded dangerously high levels of E Coli in it’s latest measurement this past Thursday.
While spots like Rockett’s Landing and the 14th St. takeout are occasionally considered “high caution”, you can see from the trend below that the current proportion of colony forming units is outlying.
Because of Richmond’s combined sewer overflow system, sewage mixed with waste gets pushed out into the river after heavy rains.
Richmond has received $50 million from the State to address the issue, but is seeking hundreds of millions more to solve the problem by 2035.
The EPA recommends an E Coli Concentration under 235 CFU/100mL is safe for swimming, and advises caution when levels are higher.
James River Watch tests various locations along the river every Thursday during the summer: last Thursday’s measurement was above 2000 CFU/100mL.
By comparison, Paris, which has spent $1.5 billion to build a massive overflow tank for their outdated sewer system, has stated the swimming portion of the triathlon at the Olympics will not be held in the Seine if the numbers are above 1000 CFU/100mL.
After a heavy rain last month the Seine had similar numbers to what the James has now.
Studies show that when levels are above 1000 CFU/100mL, roughly 15 out of 1000 water users experience some form of gastrointestinal issue.
the pulp:
Gelati Celesti will offer one free scoop of ice cream for an hour beginning Saturday at midnight, at all seven of its Richmond locations
Jonathon Spiers from Bizsense reports on the new “Rosie’s” planned in Henrico at the corner of Staples Mill and Glenside. Apparently Churchill Downs, the owners who unfittingly termed slot-machines as historical racing machines, submitted an application prior to the County receiving proper public feedback.
the dive:
A recent study by GeoHealth shows the urban heat island effect in Richmond.
The in-depth study includes not only the standard map of Richmond with surface and air temperatures, but also analyzes heat-related emergencies and walking distance to libraries and other cooling stations around the city.
I found this particular map interesting, which illustrates the gap in coverage of cooling stations relative to heat-related emergencies.
Another revealing map overlays sheltered and non-sheltered bus stops with number of heat emergencies.
The report concludes stating:
As there is a clear connection between urban heat islands and heat emergencies, policy makers should act expediently to increase free, public refuge facilities to protect urban residents from the already present impacts of climate change on urban life.
the vibe:
Have a radiant day RVA!
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