[CrazyIvan]

Similar story here. Grew up just a few miles from the (then) horribly polluted Mississippi. We all got to be very good water skiers because you wanted to be able to choose WHERE you went back into the water!

[dirtbiker]

I have no idea about the water quality from the local creek that flowed past our farm, but I figured if it was good enough upstream for the town to use for their drinking water, it couldn't be that bad. Spent many a hot, summer day floating on that creek in an innertube with my friends.......(18.4 X 38 tractor tubs are big enough to carry about 4 people, or 2 if you assume the "horizonal" position)