Coliforms in western and eastern lakes

Awareness is the key. Our waterways are not doing so well in Florida. When do we panic? Reading back over this thread, my reply looked as if I was sure Brody's ear infection was caused by the lake. Jdarg is correct. Who really knows? Without a lab test, we can not be sure. It seems year after year I have watched our water ways decline and have recently decided to become more active and vocal about it. Below is a good quote from Sierra Club on something we can all do to help:

The Sierra Club recommends we take these five fundamental steps to reduce the use of fertilizer in order to protect our precious water resources.

1. Incorporate Low-Impact Development into the Planning of our Ecologically Sensitive Community. Landscape design that emphasizes, drought tolerant native plants and grasses, zero fertilization, and reclaimed water for irrigation.
2. No Fertilization During the Summer Rainy Season – June 1st – September 30th.
3. Florida Friendly Fertilizer – If you choose to apply fertilizer to your landscape, use it only once or twice per year. Require that it include 100% controlled or time release nitrogen, contain no phosphorus, be climate appropriate, and be non-urea based.
4. Ring of Responsibility - Minimum 25 Feet – If you choose to apply fertilizer, maintain a 25 foot ring of responsibility between any body of water or impervious surface and the area to be fertilized.
5. Require Best Management Practices Certification for Lawn Care Professionals.

Here is another link from Surfrider Foundation.

http://www.surfrider.org/stateofthebeach/10-cn/body.asp?sub=DisturbingPicture

Its all about awareness.

On Sunday 5/31/09, Surfrider Foundation took a water sample from Western Lake near the outfall. The water was FULL of swimmers, and the lake was still open and flowing a little to the gulf (not gushing like the weekend before). Here are the results:

Western Lake

Fecal coliforms/E. Coli - 0/100 ml
Enterobacter - 500/100ml
Total coliforms - 500/100 ml

As you can see from the quote below, these results are much better than last time we tested.

We will no longer sample Eastern Lake as there is no public access and parking. We attempted to park (illegally) for two minutes or less at the boardwalk to pull a water sample, and we were asked to leave. If there are other coastal dune lakes with public access, parking, and frequent use that should be tested, please let us know.

On tuesday 5/12/09 Surfrider Foundation took water samples from eastern and western lakes near the outfalls where the children play on weekends. Here are the results;


Eastern Lake

Fecal coliforms/E. Coli. - 100/100 ml
Enterobacter - 3600/100 ml
Total coliform - 3700/100 ml

Western Lake

Fecal coliforms/E. coli - 0/100 ml
Enterobacter - 2500/100 ml
Total coliform - 2500/100 ml

Water Quality Standards from Walton County Health Department:



Fecal

0-200/100 ml ? good

200-399/100 ml ? moderate

400+/100 ml ? poor





Enterococcus (not Enterobacter)

0-34/100 ml ? good

35-104/100 ml ? moderate

105 +/100 ml ? poor



Link to EPA Bacterial Water Quality Standards:



http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/local/statreptac.pdf



From EPA, Total coliforms should be less than 2400 for any one sample.

Thanks so much for this information, Sand Angel.

When I was little and we played in the lake or the pass at Grayton, my mom would always put a dropper-full of alcohol in our ears when we got home. We would lie down and she would do one ear and then the other, and we loved it because it felt so great when you turned over and the drops would dribble out of our ears onto the tissue we had ready.

We never had ear infections. I did this with my own kids when they played in the pass and it seemed to work.

Just a little preventive medical home-remedy you might want to try.

I was out there last night and it sure makes a big difference when they open up! Beautiful! Thanks for the update!

I live on Eastern lake and would be happy to walk down with a test kit when needed. PM if you're interested Sand Angel.

When I was little and we played in the lake or the pass at Grayton, my mom would always put a dropper-full of alcohol in our ears when we got home. We would lie down and she would do one ear and then the other, and we loved it because it felt so great when you turned over and the drops would dribble out of our ears onto the tissue we had ready.

It's actually a pretty common swimmer's ear preventitive in general. I swam at some nasty pools in my swim teams days, and we'd always put a couple drops of alcohol in our ears after practice- not only does the alcohol kill bacteria, it also helps the ear dry out quicker, and a dry ear is less of a breeding ground for the nasties.