It’s summertime, children are out of school, many of them heading to the shores of the Pamlico River, Blounts Creek, Bath Creek, Broad Creek and the many other tributaries in the Pamlico-Tar riverbasin. Residents are truly fortunate to have the option of fishing, swimming in and boating on the waters that flow through Beaufort County.

The water, however, isn’t perfect. Heat, rain that leads to runoff into the water, runoff carrying elements that pollute the water, algae that feeds off those elements, bacteria growing, fish dying — each summer enough of these factors collide to create conditions in which swimming isn’t really advised.

Currently, an algal bloom exists in upper Bath Creek; another in upper Goose Creek. Water quality has been jeopardized from Blounts Bay to Bath Creek. That’s not to say the entire river is bad off; there are areas where water quality is pretty good.

But some types of blue-green algae can produce toxins. While it has been reported that filamentous blue-green algae has produced toxins in other parts of the United States, no toxic blooms have been reported in North Carolina, nor have there been no documented cases of health problems caused by it. That doesn’t mean that swimmers shouldn’t be cautious.

Generally, if the water is green, don’t swim in it. Don’t allow children to come in contact with it, nor pets to drink it. If there are dead fish floating in the water, avoid those areas. If one, or one’s pet, does come in contact with algae-laden water, wash thoroughly. If a person or pet appears ill after contact with an algal bloom, seek medical or veterinary help.

This is the advice of Heather Jacobs Deck, who serves as the Pamlico-Tar riverkeeper. For 13 years, Deck has studied the river and its tributaries, the things that pollute it and how that pollution affects the life in it.

She says it’s a matter of common sense: “If (the water) doesn’t look right or smell right, then play it safe.”

It’s better to be safe for a day or two without a swim, than sorry.