Campers' Labor Day Crap Could Pollute L.A.'s Drinking Water

Labor Day campers at the Angeles National Forest failed to leave only footprints over the holiday weekend. The aftermath of their lazy disregard for the environment may infect L.A. drinking water.

Park officials reported approximately 35,000 to 40,000 pounds of refuse in just one canyon of the forest following the holiday, according to CBS LA. Multiple canyons exist in the forest.

A small group of U.S. Forest Service workers - navigating rocks and cliffs - continue their feat to retrieve the staggering amount of trash. They've barely made a dent.

"The people that camp down here on the river leave their trash right where they sit," says volunteer Mark Yelton.

For some mind-boggling reason, some campers decline to use the nearby dumpsters at campsites.

The concern lies not only with the litter at campsites and along roads, but also with what ends up in the San Gabriel River.

“Approximately 35 percent of L.A.’s drinking water comes from this river,” said Nathan Judy of the U.S. Forest Service. “To pollute it up here where it begins is a travesty.”

L.A.'s drinking water is, of course, filtered. But the damage after a holiday weekend results in high bacteria levels.

“The trash content, the feces content that’s in here is high,” said Judy.

Judy, in an attempt to tackle this increasing environmental and health issue, "is educating and recruiting young park visitors in the hopes they can make a difference."

“It’s heartbreaking when you pick it up and it comes back the next weekend,” he said.