UPDATED: Lakeside Rotary Park Beach okay for swimming
By Nelson Daily Staff
Let’s all go to the beach!
The swimming area at Lakeside Rotary Park Beach has been cleared for swimming by City of Nelson staff after the latest E.Coli test results came back within normal limits and as such.
“The City is pleased to announce that with these favorable results, normal activities can resume at the swimming area at Lakeside Park,” City staff said Thursday in a media release.
“We thank residents for their patience and for respecting the water quality advisory while it was in place.”
Earlier this week test results came back from the Nelson Lakeside Beach swim area at 4,850 E. coli/100mL, which is well over the allowable limit.
However, Colin Innes, Director of Public Works & Utilities told The Nelson Daily he believes that mid-week test may have been a false one.
Innes said it’s believed the sample sat too long before being tested, again, thus giving a false reading of well over 4,000 E. coli/100mL.
Any questions should be placed to the Public Works Department during normal business hours at (250) 352-8238.
Elevated concentrations of E.coli keeps Lakeside Rotary Park Beach closed to swimming
The City of Nelson continues to keep a Water Quality Advisory in the swimming aread of Lakeside Rotary Park Beach after recent tests ballooned to unacceptable levels.
In a media release, a City of Nelson spokesperson said the water advisory remains in place due to sample results of the lake water indicating that elevated concentrations of E.coli remain present at the beach.
“The most recent Nelson Lakeside Beach swim area sample was 4,850 E. coli/100mL,” the spokesperson said.
“However, a sample taken at the boat launch wharf had a E.coli concentration of only 5 E. coli/100mL.”
City Public Works staff has been in discussions with Interior Health Authority regading this issue.
“Although the recent sample from the swim area is quite elevated, that similar situations have been observed in the Okanagan and were attributed to the presence of geese,” the spokesperson said.
Staff said city is undertaking an expanded sampling program of water both upstream and downstream of the Nelson Lakeside Beach Swim Area to determine the region of impact and possibly identify any other sources of contamination.
According to the City of Nelson website, there is a sewer line that sewage from the North Shore at the north end of the bridge is pumped under water to Lakeside Park.
All North Shore and Fairview sewage is moved to the Airport Lift Station by a single interceptor pipeline along the waterfront.
All sewage that collects at the Airport Lift Station is pumped through a 16-inch (450-mm) force main to the Sewage Treatment Plan (STP) at Grohman Narrows.
The beach was first closed (Tuesday) August 9 due to an increase in E. Coli levels. The advisory was continued through the weekend as levels increased.
The City will continue to update the public as we receive new test results for the beach lake area.
