CINCINNATI – When Sydney Bostwick brought her dog to the flooded riverfront Monday to view the high water, she made sure they stayed a safe distance away.
"Just getting close enough to see - not letting him swim in it or anything cause it's obviously floodwater, so you have no idea what's in it,” Bostwick said.
“If he swims, he drinks."
Experts say when the Ohio River rises, so do the risks associated with your health and safety.
Going into the water can be dangerous because you don’t know what’s in it. And floodwater can hide the risks of floating debris, said Nick Crossley, Director of Hamilton County Emergency Management.
"You just need to be aware of anything that could pierce your shoe or pierce your feet if you stick your hands in it," Crossley said.
The good news from Cincinnati Water Works is that they're still able to treat the Ohio River water without problems, and from a drinking standpoint everything is safe.
But underwater playgrounds, ballfields and parks are a different story.
After the water recedes, the Cincinnati Recreation Commission says it removes all the silt from the surfaces, power washes the playground equipment and replaces the mulch and mud that's been washed away.
