Chico citizens are worried about the shigella outbreak, but as usual, city management pooh-poohs their concerns.
I have heard from a man who has had a positive test for shigella. He says it’s horrible, non-stop diarrhea, dehydration, and it’s easy to keep catching it when you have no place to wash your hands. The county health department has confirmed 44 cases so far. But staff has tested the water at One Mile, and denies any contamination? When we have people living in the park and using the creek as a toilet, the rest of us are supposed to believe we’re safe from catching it?
Shigella is a bacteria that spreads with contact, and according to this article, while it can be spread through public swimming areas like creeks and streams, it is hard to test the water for it. While it only takes one bacillus to catch this illness, it is hard to test streams, because the bacteria live in pods that float in the water. Experts say to be sure to collect a lot of samples, especially at “entry areas,” like the steps at Sycamore Pool. We don’t know how city employees conduct these tests. I do know, that in past, city officials have released test results, and they have accepted the lowest levels considered “safe” by health officials.
From the Safe Drinking Water Foundation – https://www.safewater.org/fact-sheets-1/2017/1/23/shigella
Shigellae may be more prevalent in surface waters, such as rivers, lakes and shallow wells, than in groundwater sources. Surface waters can be easily contaminated by sewage. Water treatment plants can remove Shigellae with the use of chlorine, so the bacteria are more prevalent in raw, untreated water. Shigellosis occurs more in the summer than in the winter. Communities that effectively treat sewage and keep water supplies safe drastically reduce the number of cases of shigellosis.
My advice is, don’t swim in untreated water. While City of Chico claims to empty and hose out Sycamore Pool once a month, it’s not chlorinated.* Here’s an article from Santa Cruz, California public health department
Creeks, rivers, lagoons, and ocean water may be contaminated with bacteria that can result in gastrointestinal illness. Protect yourself and your pets by not swimming or bathing in creeks, rivers, lagoons, and ocean water known or suspected of being contaminated.
In past, old timers have always told me, don’t swim in local creeks after July, some say June. Here’s a simple reason – there are cattle in the hills above Chico, all along Chico Creek. When my family camped at a campground off Hwy 32, there were cow pies in every direction, all over the creekside. Cattle carry giardia, a parasite that gets into water and infects humans and other animals such as your dog. It’s a real problem with children because they tend to swallow more water.
Now we have an aggressive bacteria that has been reported in Shasta and then Butte County – it spreads quickly by way of the unhoused population, through feces that is deposited along our waterways. The city takes a blind eye on the water quality in the park. Why aren’t they announcing the actual numbers on their tests? How about dates? These tests need to be done regularly as long as the county health department is reporting an increasing number of cases.
And it’s not just water – it’s drinking fountains, park fixtures such as picnic tables and benches, public doors and doorknobs, restaurant fixtures – don’t be afraid to ask your server when was the last time they washed their hands! Ask them how often the tables and chairs are sanitized. When there was a Hepatitis virus outbreak up the entire west coast, tourists in San Diego got it from eating in a restaurant’s sidewalk dining area.
Stay safe. Since the city of Chico takes such a laissez-faire attitude toward this outbreak, I’d avoid Downtown, especially outside dining areas. It’s so funny to look back on how the city of Chico reacted toward the COVID hoax, but learned nothing.
* BT asked me about how often the city actually cleans Sycamore Pool at One Mile. The website says every Thursday, but when I went over there last Thursday morning, I didn’t see anything. But this morning about 9am I saw crews emptying the pool, so I’m not sure what their schedule is. I know they’ve had a lot of concern over elevated levels of bacteria. But like I told BC, how does this weekly washing of one area in lower park guarantee there’s no bacteria in the water? Maybe if they’d just answer the question – how is Shigella spreading around town?
Chico Taxpayers Association 
Another good article, Juanita; I theorize that the Chico City Council and Butte County Board of Supervisors prefer to ignore bad news that embarrasses their inaction and spend money on police and deputy salaries and benefits, K9s, drones, license plate screeners, and so forth instead of taking immediate action to protect the people.
As usual, you said it Scott, thank you. Good to hear from you. I’m still so mad I can hardly be civil, ‘scuse my French.
City management has willfully let our “jewel” go completely to shit. “Use the park at your own risk”, is what I expect to see soon, at every entrance to Bidwell Park. Annie Bidwell gave us this gift – once known worldwide as one of the biggest city parks in the United States, full of natural beauty, a habitat for many local species, an outdoor classroom for children, a sanctuary of peace for hikers and bikers. Burnt to shit Scott, it’s horrific.
And the creek hasn’t been properly maintained for years. The city says it’s the DWR’s responsibility, meanwhile South Park Drive has been falling into the creek for years. So they close the road instead of fix it? And guess what – those houses along upper South Park Drive ARE NOT ON SEWER. The septic systems in their back yards are most certainly leaching into the creek and on to One Mile.
That happened at a park in east Sacramento, we went there to use their disc golf course, and the newly incorporated city of Citrus Heights was in the process of putting in sewer lines. The little creek that ran along the subdivision smelled like a cesspool. Children had been playing at that park for years, but the city of Sacramento refused to do anything. So that part of town was forced to incorporate into the city of Citrus Heights so they could apply for state funding to clean it up.
Is this where Chico is headed? I hope not, but it’s going to take a lot of work to turn this crapship around.
Quick question and comment: your article said that they clean 1-mile once a month. It that true. The reason I ask is because I lived 2 blocks from the 1-mile for 20 years, and I remember it being cleaned once a week. Was there a change? If so, did they say in was budget related? As for lower park, one of these days it’s going to catch fire as well. I hope it doesn’t happen, but I have been saying this for a decade or more. Just a matter of time. If the politico’s had any sense, they would put a special use tax on the ballot just for the park. Folks in Chico would approve it.
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Yes, they used to clean it every Thursday. There has been a change. I thought it was once a month, my husband said the news said every two weeks. the website says every Thursday, but you know I’ve been there on Thursday mornings here and there and seen nothing. In years past they’d be out there by 8am or so. Your guess is as good as mine. You can look at the budget on the city website, let me know you think. I guarantee you’ll find some stuff to piss you off. For my part I’ll ride my bike over there this morning and let you know what I see.
Here’s the thing – you really think that keeps the bacteria levels safe? I don’t, and I wouldn’t recommend swimming anywhere in Chico creek after about June 30. In towns all up and down the California coast, beaches are being closed due to bacteria levels, warnings are being issued along the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers.
I would not support any more taxes for this city – more gas on their fire? Look how they spend the money. They took in millions in COVID and Camp Fire emergency funding – what did they do with it? This city has plenty of money, we need better, set spending policies. I think the state should take over the park at 5 Mile, maybe lower. It’s a waterway, and the city of Chico treats it like a toilet.
Frankly I’m ready to get rid of council. The voters aren’t qualified to elect anybody, look at the people we get. When you have uneducated voters, you get unqualified leaders. Districts have been a disaster – anybody can get elected at those numbers. And then we are all stuck with somebody who got what – 5,000 votes? They couldn’t get elected in an at-large election, but they’re making decisions (bad ones) that affect the entire town.
We got problems BC.. Throwing money on it never works. I’d rather deal with council before we hand over more money.
Okay, I didn’t see them last Thursday, but today – Monday 8/19, they were emptying. Seems suspicious.