Mill Creek Park lake tests show E. coli counts have dropped

YOUNGSTOWN — Mill Creek and Lake Newport water samples collected under sunny, hot and dry weather conditions Wednesday show low levels of E. coli bacteria, the Mahoning County Board of Health reported late today after incubating the samples for 24 hours in its lab.

E. coli counts were 127, 123 and 101, respectively, in three samples collected at the footbridge over Mill Creek just north of Shields Road, where the creek is shallow and shaded.

The readings were much lower in the sunny lake area.

The counts were 2, 1 and 1, respectively, in three samples taken at the East Newport Boat Launch on the east side of Lake Newport.

At the boat rental house on the west side of the lake, the counts were 1 and two readings of less than one colony-forming E. coli unit.

The Ohio EPA says levels above 576 present a potential public health hazard.

County Health Commissioner Patricia Sweeney and Ryan Tekac, environmental health director, cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about the water quality, noting that this is the first of 12 weekly sample groups to be taken.

Park officials closed Mill Creek Park lakes, Newport, Cohasset and Glacier, indefinitely to recreational use July 10 due to high E.coli counts.