Who doesn't love a little waterborne disease?

As the weather gets a little warmer, we'll all be dreaming about a nice trip to the beach. However, there is one body of water you should probably avoid in the Capital Region. I'm sure it wasn't too hard to guess. That's right, the Hudson River.

If you're wondering just how dangerous it is to swim in the Hudson River, here are just a few facts to give you an idea. Did you know that according to New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation's website, even though there are "safe beaches," the water treatment plants do not clean and process all of the waste? This heightens the risk for many diseases. 

Even though there have been many advancements in cleaning the river, here are a few things you can find in the Hudson right now: rain run-off from vehicle fluids; garbage from parking lots, fertilizers, and human waste.

Here are a few common outbreaks that humans can get from ingesting untreated water, according to the Centers for Disease Control: Giardia, which is a parasite that can cause diarrhea and dehydration; Legionella, which is a bacteria that can lead to Legionnaire's disease, or Pontiac fever which can cause lung failure. Salmonella, E. coli, and Hepatitis A are also waterborne parasites and diseases that can be caught from drinking dirty water.

Though your chances of getting these parasites or diseases may be low, they absolutely can kill you. That's why taking a dive in the Hudson River makes our list of 1,000 ways to die in Albany.

 

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