Hope Mills Lake back open for swimming
For the last two months, Hope Mills Lake was off limits to swimming because of high levels of fecal bacteria. But on Thursday, the town was given the green light to reopen the lake to swimmers.
Posted — UpdatedSan'Niyah Abdul-Rahim and her buddies from the Hope Mills YMCA were some of the first back into the water.
"I see ducks, and we come and feed [them] bread out here, and I really enjoy seeing the ducks," she said.
The lake was closed to swimmers since May 4.
"But there was also some concerns because of after Hurricane Matthew, and after the lake had nothing in it for so long, there were some concerns about what might be in the water," Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner said.
Warner said two good soaking rains in recent weeks helped push the bad water over the dam, which improved water quality.
"It's awesome being that we're right there around the corner. It's really easy, walk them over and they enjoy it out here," said Nia Steptoe, a YMCA counselor. "They love the water."
The opening comes just in time for the 4th of July celebrations.
"Lake party is on. We got the water back. They can go swimming," Warner said.
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