On March 22nd, the sewer treatment plant in Huntville, TN on the banks of New River (of Big South Fork) had a dual pump failure which resulting in a limited amount of sewage being spilled into New River. New River flows into Big South fork of the Cumberland about 14 miles downstream. It went all over the news that you shouldn't get in the water and how terrible this was and all. I've been saying for years that there's more crap being straight piped into the river upstream in the mountains that what would ever come out of a sewer plant.

Here's an update from the local paper about all the water sampling the state has been doing in addressing the situation. It says that the water is actually cleaner down stream of the sewer plant than it is above the sewer plant:)

http://www.ihoneida.com/main/news/river-advisory-remains-effect