POSTPONED Splash hosted by Anacostia Riverkeeper

Anacostia Riverkeeper is hosting the first sanctioned swim in the Anacostia River in over 50 years – Splash!

Swimming has been illegal in District waters since 1971, due to safety concerns around bacteria levels in the water from sewage overflows. However, through infrastructure improvements like the CleanRivers tunnels implemented by DC Water, sewage overflow levels into the Anacostia River have reduced by 80%.

The DC Citizen Science Water Quality Monitoring Program has tracked this progress, finding bacteria levels that pass recreational standards most of the time. In 2022, monitoring sites at Kingman Island, Buzzards Point, and Washington Channel passed recreational water quality standards over 90% of the time. These trends have continued for the 2023 monitoring season so far.

Splash is a community event that will provide a rare chance for residents to swim in and reconnect with the Anacostia River! Join us is making history this summer!

What to expect:

1. Participants will be able to swim briefly in the river off the Kingman Island Dock next to the Benning Road Bridge during a designated time slot. All participants must be 18 years old or older, comfortable swimming and treading in deep water and able to climb in and out of the water via a dock ladder. You must stay within the designated swim area.

2. Swimming is only allowed for registered participants during their pre-registered 20-minute swim slot. Swimmers may only register for one swim slot. Participants can only splash in the timeframe they purchased their ticket for as we are unable to transfer time slots. Please ensure that you arrive 15-minutes prior to your check-in time!

3. This event is contingent on water quality results from the day prior. The alternate date for this event is set for mid-September 2023. In the event of postponement, participants will have their registration transferred to September 16th for the same time slot they initially signed up for.

4. Event updates and other details for the event will be distributed to participants via email before the event. To ensure you receive important updates, please provide an email address that you check regularly.

5. Access to the dock and swim area will be strictly limited to registered swimmers. If participants have guests wanting to watch the event take place, we will have two spectator locations.

6. A bag check and rinse-off station will be available. We encourage you to only bring essentials including: towel, water shoes, sunscreen, etc.

7. Lifeguards and an EMT will be on duty during this event.

8. We highly recommend that participants arrive via Metro, Capitol Bike Share, Carpooling, etc as parking is limited at this event.

Learn more about our water quality monitoring and other programs working to connect people to the river and make the Anacostia swimmable for all!

Swimming is still illegal in District waters and you may only swim during a sanctioned Special Swim Event like this one with a permit from DC Department of Energy and the Environment. We do not encourage swimming in the river outside of these events.

Questions? Send them to [email protected]