River keepers test Lake Lanier for E. coli

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Heavy rains like we’ve seen in Georgia recently can lead to higher levels of bacteria in the water.

A no-swim warning was issued because of E. coli earlier this month after a sample was taken from Don Carter State Park.

Members of the Chattahoochee River Keeper were back out at the park Friday testing Lake Lanier.
The EPA said the water is fine for swimming, boating and fishing for the holiday weekend.

“We test (the water) every week,” Chattahoochee River Keeper’s Dale Caldwell told Channel 2’s Lori Wilson.

Caldwell said bodies of water in Georgia are tested regularly. Lake Lanier is tested every month.

“This weekend, according to the numbers, we are below (EPA) acceptable standards,” Caldwell told Wilson.

Caldwell takes a sample of the water, dilutes it and then tests that sample under a black light to see if the bacteria are present.

He said when a sample is taken right after a heavy rain, like the one that was taken from Don Carter State Park, high levels of E. coli are to be expected.

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“They took that sample (from Don Carter) while it was raining, so, and the numbers that they had did exceed the EPA standards, but it still wasn’t that high compared to what we usually see after rain events,” Caldwell said.

But the samples taken from the lake this week are well within EPA standards and Caldwell said that is for a couple of reasons.

“We don’t see high levels of E. coli in Lake Lanier mostly because of the dilution factor,” Caldwell said.

And that’s good news for visitors.

“I couldn’t believe how blue the water was,” said Bev Hosier, who is in town for a graduation party. “It’s very inviting, I don’t know how warm it is, but it’s very inviting.”

“It’s supposed to be a little cold, but hey it’s pretty hot out here, so it will feel good,” Isabel Davis told Wilson.

But for some, there is hesitation about water safety.

"I've heard all the stuff about E. coli and bacteria and stuff in it," said Andy Ellithorpe from Braselton.
"I'm probably going to stay out of it until further reading."

But Caldwell said you only have to be concerned about E. coli after a heavy rain, in an area near a tributary or cove, where you might get lots of runoff after rain.

“By the time the water gets to Lake Lanier, the bacteria is basically dying on its way there,” Caldwell said. “And once it hits Lake Lanier, that’s just not a setting where bacteria thrives.”

Cox Media Group