VERIFY: Are Texas lakes and rivers clean enough to swim in? (2024)

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Some of the most popular stories we've ever done on Verify are about the quality of the water in our lakes and rivers. Or lack of it!

Two years ago, I learned theTrinity Riverin Dallas has way too much poop in it for safe swimming. Last summer, I learnedWhite Rock Lakeis better than the Trinity, but still not healthy enough for swimming.

So, that's the dirty water. But after each of these stories people ask, where is thecleanwater? So, I decided to find out.

BACK TOTHE TRINITY

I'm paddling on the Trinity in Fort Worth, now with Richard Grayson. He's been on all these adventures with me. Richard is a naturalist and volunteer with theTexas Stream Team, documenting water quality in North Texas.

“How is the Trinity at Fort Worth, different than the Trinity at Dallas?” I ask.

“Hasn't had as much urban runoff into it,” Richard answers.

Runoff is what happens after it rains. Animal waste and fertilizer get carried into rivers, polluting them with the bacteria E. Coli. Poop, basically.

“We're taking a sample forE. coli bacteria,” Richard says as wedip a jug into the river to collect water.

“Take a whiff. Does it have an odor or any kind?” Richard asks me.

“I'm smelling somecaramelnotes, maybe some berries, a little vanilla,” I joke. “Actually, I don't smell anything,” I say.

Dallas is downriver from Fort Worth. The further upriver you go, the cleaner the water gets. Which corresponds with the overall water qualityfindingsfor the Trinity in Fort Worth.

It's clean enough for swimming!

“Over in Western Tarrant Countythere is more open space and land for the rainfall to percolate into and absorb go into before it gets to the river,” Richard says.

LOOKING AT LAKE WATER

How about our lakes? Are they clean?

I'm hanging out with theGrapevine Sailing Club. They're onand inthe water all the time.

“You're jumping in the lake. You're spending time on the lake. Eating the fish out of the lake,” Jane Bagford says, who’s our captain on this trip.

“Even when we're racing or just playing around you get splashed. We get water that hits the bow. Winds up on your face. Winds up in your mouth,” Nicholas Trevino is telling me, the Vice Admiral of the Club.

“Do you swim in Grapevine?” I ask him.

“Yes,we did last Saturday,” he answers.

In Texas, the state's Commission on Environmental Quality, the TCEQ, is responsible for water quality. It generally considers most lakes to be safe for swimming. But a spokesperson told me that's based on samples last collected 7-years ago.

Not super reassuring.

The Commission says there are more current samples, collected about four times a year. But when you take a close look,they're not easyfor the public to locate or understand.

“I know the temperature. I'd really love to know, what's the bacteria count,” Bagford says.

I don't blame her.

So, how could you still consider a lake like Grapevine to be safe for swimming?

The state says you should avoid swimming after events like heavy rain or sewage leaks. But while rivers are easily polluted because of low volumes of water. Lakes are massive and most contamination is quickly diluted.

“I trust the quality of the lake. That’s why I'm out here all the time. However, it would beniceto have some data to back that up,” Bagford says.

KEEPING THE TRINITY CLEAN

Let's head back to the Trinity, one more time.

Woody Frossard leads theTarrant Regional Water District. It's responsible for the quality of the river water around Fort Worth.

Unlike the state, the TRWD makes water quality info easy to find. Every week, water quality reports areposted online for the public.

“We are one of the few rivers that goes through a metropolitan area that is not considered impaired forE.coli,” Frossard is telling me.

And recently, the TRWD got the authority to prevent new developments from releasing pollutedrunoff intothe river.Developersofnewbuildings andapartment complexes on the riverarerequired to filter all rainwater on the property before it gets to the Trinity.

“So,you went out and got the authority to say, if anyone wants to put more water into our river, it better be clean?” I ask Woody.

“Yes,” he says.

“Why did you do that?” I ask.

“Our board has been very progressive on wanting to protect the use of this river. They want it to be a greatamenityfor the public andthepublic use,” he says.

CONCLUSION

So, where is the clean water?

It's unfortunate the State of Texas isn't helpful about sharing water quality information with the public.

But I did learn that most lakes are generally clean because of how well they dilute pollution.

And the Trinity in Fort Worth, well it's generally surprisingly clean.

More on WFAA: