Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009

Wake tracks lakes' water

A new county Web site posts the results of frequent testing for contaminants.

Wake County swimmers can keep track of water quality safety at local lake beaches with a new Web site that tracks testing results.

Wake officials launched the site this month after beaches on Falls Lake were closed several times because tests found high levels of bacteria that can make swimmers sick.

"We were getting a fair number of calls whenever there was a beach closing," said Melinda Clark, Wake's stormwater programs manager. "Different types of questions like, 'I swam there, do I need to be worried?' Or, 'I'm planning a trip this weekend, can I still fish?' It's the best way for us to get out current information to the most people."

The Web site includes links to closings and reopenings, with contacts for beaches and answers to frequent questions.

It also includes the results from the county's regular testing of the beaches in the county for both E. coli and enterococci bacteria.

The beaches include Beaverdam, Holly Point and Sandling beaches on Falls Lake; Camp Kanata, a YMCA camp near Wake Forest; and New Life Camp, a private Christian camp in North Raleigh. Wake County also tests Silver Lake and Lake Wheeler south of Raleigh and Harris Lake in New Hill.

Wake County officials test the waters at private and public beaches once a week, and more often if high levels of bacteria are found.

Beaverdam has been closed four times this season after tests turned up bacteria above the standard. Beaverdam's neighbor, Sandling Beach, was closed for a few days in May and July.

Beaches at New Life Camp, Lake Wheeler and Silver Lake also have been closed for periods this season.

Wake officials are working with N.C. State University professors to develop a pilot program to determine the causes of contamination at area lakes.

The details are still be worked out, Clark said.

"We're working to do more sampling and more testing to identify sources," she said.