According to a city press release from August 29, 2022, people should avoid direct contact with the water in Meade Creek until further notice. Meade Creek is the meandering stream that cuts through Meade Park in which children frequently play.
Until further notice, everyone should avoid direct contact with this and other local streams (a full list of Charlottesville’s contaminated waterways can be found in the city’s press release). The city has posted signs warning people not to come into contact with the water but these signs have not always been well-designed to convey this simple message or to catch the public’s attention.
The results of recent and past RCA bacteria monitoring for Meade Creek and other Charlottesville streams can be accessed here: https://www.rivannariver.org/bacteria/
The local K-12 public school year begins Wednesday, August 24 and this year is going to be a little different: due to the bus driver shortage, there will be about 800 more kids walking and biking to school this year and this is particularly risky because Charlottesville City government has long given low priority to basic infrastructure needs like good sidewalks and bike lanes.
