Two Wake County swimming areas closed due to bacteria

Raleigh, N.C. — Wake County officials closed two recreational swimming areas Friday due to elevated levels of bacteria, based on Environmental Protection Agency standards.

The affected areas are Sandling Beach at Falls Lake State Recreational Area and Camp Kanata Lake, a private lake near Wake Forest. The lakes are not closed to fishing.

"We are trying to prevent people from getting sick, so we'll keep sampling and reopen the lakes for swimming as soon as the levels return to normal," Wake County Environmental Services Director Tommy Esqueda said in a news release.

Two consecutive acceptable samples are required to reopen the lakes, which could be as soon as this weekend, he added.

County officials suggest calling recreational lake facilities to find out if they are open to swimming.

Health officials advise swimmers to always wash hands with soap and water, and thoroughly shower after swimming, tubing or skiing in area lakes.

The county routinely tests recreational lakes for bacteria, including enterococci and E coli.

When bacteria levels exceed EPA standards, the area is closed to "primary contact recreation," which is swimming or any activity where people's heads may go underwater.

The county samples the lakes weekly each summer.

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MMMMmmmm...... My drinking water source laced with harmful bacteria. YAY!!!!! Let's build more houses there so we can screw it up even more!!!!!!!!

geosol
May 22, 2009 7:31 p.m.

Just wondering what the source of the bacterial contamination could be. Let's see...possibly septic tanks from the nearby by rest facilities are leaching into the lake...is there a possibility boats in the area are dumping holding tanks in the lake nearby....Are recreational camper vehicles dumping their tanks illegally nearby...How many other beach areas have elevated bacteria levels , just not high enough to trigger a beach closing? Will this possibly affect other uses of the lake waters...i.e. drinking by cities that use it downstream?

oldrebel
May 22, 2009 5:04 p.m.

mmmmmmmmmmmmm good, more lakes in Wake County where one can swim in their own stew!

time4real
May 22, 2009 4:19 p.m.

Defaecate in the lake? The defaecate in the lake? Are you referring to #1 or #2? Defaecate means #2, I'm pretty sure you mean "void" or simply urinate.