BREAKING NEWS | This week's Lake Newport E. coli tests yield mixed results

YOUNGSTOWN — Levels of E. coli bacteria measured this week in Lake Newport and Mill Creek were – depending on the location where samples were collected – either lower or higher than last week’s, according to results released today by the Mahoning County District Board of Health.

This marks the fourth week in a 12-week testing program conducted by the county health board after earlier testing found elevated levels of the bacteria in Mill Creek MetroParks water. Initial testing was done in response to a massive fish kill in Lake Newport at the end of June.

Park lakes have been closed to the public since July 10.

Water samples collected Wednesday at the Lake Newport boathouse on West Newport Drive showed E. coli counts lower than last week’s and below the level the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency considers to be a public health risk.

The readings were: 24.6, 19.5 and 14.6 colony forming units, respectively, per 100 milliliters of water, according to health board results.

Samples collected at a footbridge over Mill Creek just north of Shields Road yielded the following results: 614, 1050 and 817. Levels above 576 represent a public health risk, according to OEPA. These levels are higher than last week’s readings.

Samples collected near the Lake Newport boat launch showed counts of 20.1, 17.3 and 12.0, which are lower than last week’s counts.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com