BRATTLEBORO, Vt. -
Swimmers may want to think twice before taking a dip in several rivers in southern Vermont.
Recent tests found extremely high levels of E. coli in Whetstone Brook in Brattleboro and the Williams River in Chester. The levels are more than eight times higher than state and national standards for safe swimming.
Officials with the Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance tell the Brattleboro Reformer that Tropical Storm Irene may be to blame.
They fear several septic systems may still be damaged from the storm.
More tests are planned for later this week.
