Leakage of wastewater from a valve is being thought to be the cause of rising bacteria levels in the Arkansas River, says a recent report.

It has been found that bacteria has risen dramatically and has even caused an issue of a public health advisory for the river that runs from the Lincoln Street Bridge in central Wichita to the Oklahoma state line.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has been warning people to stay away from the river. Also, pets and livestock are to be prevented from being brought to the river, the report finds. The fear comes from the killing of a fish in black, odiferous water areas.

The group has found that mostly, south part and downstream of Wichita River Festival activities has been affected with the bacterial emergence. The activities had begun on Friday.

A spokeswoman for KDHE has told that officials have started to repair the leaking valve, which is at an intermediate pump station at the main wastewater treatment plant in the City of Wichita. The work is to be continued through the holiday weekend so as to examine the total impact of the untreated wastewater.