Dr. Andreas Fath
Dr. Andreas Fath takes a sample from the Rhine River. He hopes his long-distance swims help make the general public aware of the big impact little things can have on water quality.Chattanoogans may not know the name Dr. Andreas Fath, but they will very soon. Beginning July 27, the professor of medical and life sciences at the University of Furtwangen in Germany plans to swim the length of the Tennessee River – all 652 miles, more than the distance from Chattanooga to the Great Lakes.
In 2014, Fath swam the Rhine River’s 766 miles in only 28 days, breaking the world record for a marathon swim. It wasn’t fame or a personal best he sought, but awareness of water quality. He performed water analysis studies throughout his journey to inform citizens how what they consume affects the local water supply.
“The microplastic problem is one example,” Fath says, referencing the tiny particles from plastics overtaking the world’s waters, which a United Nations report recently identified as one of the most dangerous environmental problems facing the world today. “The project and the results will make people aware of their influence. Small changes in their behavior will have a big positive effect on water quality.”
Through his upcoming trip, Fath hopes to bring that message to America.
Get Out: What do you expect regarding the health of our local waters?