This week, more than 10 river sites across North Carolina—including popular spots in Raleigh, Clayton, and near the coast—failed water safety tests due to E. coli contamination, according to nonprofit group Sound Rivers.

I’m a parent, and I take my kids to the river to swim and play every summer. But this week’s news stopped me in my tracks. At places like the Clayton River Walk, the water fails safety tests more than 40% of the time. Yet there are no signs to warn families.

We shouldn’t have to guess whether the water is safe before our children jump in.

I’m calling on the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to take one simple step: Put visible warning signs at river sites that frequently fail water-quality tests. Families have the right to know.

This is about protecting our kids. Before another family gets sick, let’s fix this.

Sign this petition to tell DEQ: Warn parents when the water isn’t safe. Put up the signs.