E.coli spike at Smith Mountain Lake swimming site
Published: June 24, 2009
Updated: June 24, 2009
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) says there’s too much bacteria at one popular swimming site at Smith Mountain Lake.
The VDH says levels of E.coli at the Ponderosa Campground on the Blackwater River section in Franklin County, are higher than state water quality standards. (Click here for a map)
VDH workers placed a sign at the beach to warn swimmers about the advisory.
According to the VDH, people who swim in water with bacteria levels higher than the standard, have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness, skin rashes and ear infections.
“We encourage the public to protect their health by complying with this advisory,” said Dr. Gordon Green, Director of the West Piedmont Health District (VDH), in a news release. “Typically, an advisory of this nature is temporary and will be withdrawn once the bacteria levels have returned to a safe level,” Dr. Green added.
Reader Reactions
This is just the start of our problems. As more and more septic systems fail this condition will become permanent. Then the homeowners there with disproportionate political influence (ie wealth) will demand that WE, the poor slobs who can’t afford a home at the lake, pay for the extraordinarily expensive public sewage system required to solve the problem. Bend over and grab your ankles.
Boy I’ll tell ya, if we could just keep them dang hippies out of our mountain water we’d be o.k…long as we have these boys with long hair running around wearing sandals painting vans and whatnot things are just gonna get worse…
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