"ScrAPES #21- Charles River Opens For First Public Swim Since the 1950s"

Article- Charles River Opens For First Public Swim Since the 1950s, Billy Baker, 7/13/2013 (The article is from the worksheet handed out in class) 

Topic: Contaminated Water

Summary:
     Since the 1950s, the Charles River was finally open for the public to swim in. The river received a grade D from the EPA in 1995, but in 2011 it improved majorly and received a B. It took six months for the officials to get permits to allow the public to swim in the Charles River. People described the water being warm with an orange/ beef broth color; however, they continued to swim in the river and enjoyed their time. Furthermore, the bottom of the river is still toxic, but as long as no one touches the bottom people were safe. 
     I chose this article because I wanted to read more about the Charles River and the people's reactions. What I found shocking was the fact that people were allowed to swim in the river even though the bottom of the river remained toxic. It was also shocking to read the people's reactions; they described the color of the water looking weird, but they continued to swim in it which is crazy. 
     This article is important to environmental science because it proves how water contamination is real and not taken seriously. The toxic in the bottom of the water is still going to cause problems for the marine environment and to our health. Our next steps is to really examine the river, and see if it is truly safe to swim in. We should now educate people in what contaminated water can do to our health, and make them realize that swimming in the Charles River is still not safe if it continues to look the way it is.