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Lake Newport water tests OK for second week
YOUNGSTOWN
E. coli bacteria levels measured this week, like those from last week, in Mill Creek and Lake Newport water are far below the public-health hazard threshold.
Under sunny and dry weather conditions similar to those of last week, the samples were collected Tuesday for the second week of a 12-week testing program by the Mahoning County Board of Health.
This week’s lab results were announced late Wednesday.
Because it’s still early in the testing program, the health board again cautioned against drawing conclusions.
“The weather conditions over the past two samples are very similar, with no significant amounts of rainfall and substantial sun exposure on the lake itself,” observed Ryan Tekac, environmental health director at the county health board.
Lakes Newport, Cohasset and Glacier in Mill Creek Park were closed indefinitely to all recreational uses July 10, after five of seven earlier county health board test- sample results exceeded the potential public-health threat level.
Those results followed a massive Lake Newport fish kill the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency attributed primarily to combined city storm and sanitary sewer overflow discharges following heavy late June rainfall.
E. coli are found in sewage and mammal feces.
Three water samples taken Tuesday at the foot bridge over Mill Creek in the tree-shaded area just north of Shields Road showed E. coli counts of 87, 98 and 142, respectively, per 100 milliliters of water, the board reported.
These compare to 101, 123 and 127, respectively, in samples collected July 29 at the same location.
The Ohio EPA says levels above 576 present a potential public health risk.
One hundred milliliters is about 3.4 ounces.
As was the case last week, levels were much lower in the sunnier lake area.
At the East Newport Boat Launch, this week’s counts in three samples were 8, 8 and 3 per 100 milliliters, compared to 2, 2 and 1 last week.
At the Lake Newport boat rental house off West Newport Drive, this week’s results from three samples were 1, 1 and less than 1 colony forming unit, compared to 1 and two readings of less than 1 last week.
Sunny weather helps kill bacteria, according to county Health Commissioner Patricia Sweeney.
In addition to the regular weekly water sample testing, the county health board plans to collect and test creek and lake water samples 24 to 48 hours after rain events.