Board Votes to Commit Funds for More Big Sioux River Testing
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A water district board has voted to commit funds for more genetic testing related to E. coli in the Big Sioux River.
The river has been tagged for years as an "impaired water body" due to an overabundance of E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria. The Argus Leader reports no one had tested the river for genes that can turn often harmless E. coli into a dangerous strain until last year.
Researchers from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology told the East Dakota Water Development District board Feb. 18 about its testing results, saying they had found genes that can turn E. coli into a strain that causes sickness.
The district board voted to commit $25,000 to continue precision genetic testing, dependent on the city of Sioux Falls committing $100,000 to match it.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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