INFORMATION #3 07-15-2002iNFORMATION
City of Elk River Policy Regarding Water Quality Testing at Orono Beach
Stephen Rohlf 7/11/02
Testing Frequency
Test each Thursday to determine if there is a problem prior to high beach usage on the
weekend and Monday to determine if high weekend usage caused a problem.
Standard for Beach Closure ,.
Follow state recommended guideline: geometric mean of tests for five different days in a
30 day period where fecal coliform count is greater than 200 (Elk River will use the most
recent five sampling events) or any single event of 1000 or more.
Standard for Reopening Beach
Geometric mean returns to 200 or less for two consecutive sampling events.
Additional Protocol when Unacceptable Fecal Coliform
Count is Detected
As soon as possible, test just north of Highway 10 Bridge, at the Dam, at the mouth of the
Elk River (where it enters the Lake) and any known potential sources, to try to isolate
source of contamination.
As soon as practical, split sample with an independent lab to verify result and conduct a
fecal streptococcus test at all locations where fecal count is high to determine if fecal
matter is of humane or animal origin.
Conduct fecal test daily until normal levels are achieved (see "Standard for Reopening
Beach").
Notice
when Beach is Closed
Street department places signs at Orono Beach and public access.
Contact Elk River Police Department
Lake Orono Improvement Association is notified and they do a calling tree to lake
owners (contact all on list and leave messages, but keep calling until at least one
is spoken to directly:
Jim Snetsinger
Jim Tacheny
John Weicht
Vance Zehringer
Edward Buttweiler
Patrick or Cindy Plant
241-3116
0,~ 441-3961
441-4112
441-6536
441- 4203
441-6339
work 506-1020
The Plants also post notice on the Lake website.
Contact Sherbume County Health Department - (763) 241-2750.
Inform Council Members and City Administrator (messages ok).
Additional Recommendations
~ Review rerouting ot: storm sewer that emptying into lake adjacent to the beach.
~ Coordinate with the Sherbume County Fair Board, Chamber of Commerce and
others regarding making sewage disposal for RVs in a sanitary manhole available
(first day participants come to an event and the day they leave).
~' Eliminate potential animal sources of fecal (e.g. prohibit dogs at the beach and
keep goose pollution is check).
~ If high count is isolated to the beach, consider flushing area with chlorinated
water from city fire hydrant.
2002 Fecal Coliform Test Result (results received after 24 hodrs incubation period)
Testing
Date
5/30/02
6/6/02
6/13/02
6/17/02
6/20/02
6/24/02
6/27/02
7/1/02
7/2/02
7/3/02
7/4/02
7/5/02
7/6/02
7/7/02
7/8/02
7/9/02
7/10/02
Fecal Coliform Count at Beach
16
302
22
TNTC (To Numerous To Count) - Trip blank ok, lab error suspected "
366
118
482 (geometric mean up until this date under 200)
TNTC (additional test done to verify results)
2,790
2,084 (beach closed due to results of test done on 7/2/02, results received on 7/3/02)
2,250
650
1,700
949
750
3,700
1,700 (split sample with independent lab to verify results)
Other test results from 7/10/02:
3,000 Elk River at Waco Street
1,100 North of Highway 10 bridge
1,500 Elk River below dam
7/11/02
Split sample with independent lab to do fecal streptococcus (results pending)
iNFORMATION
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- Peine, Sandy
From: KevinCd rSdg M N@aol.com
Sent: Friday, July 05, 2002 10:56 AM
To: cityclerk@ci.elk-river, mn.us
Subject: Lake Orono - CLOSED???
I was at Lake Orono for the fireworks on the 4th of July and noticed that the lake was closed for swimming, which
is what I have questions about. First, from the little I heard, I understand their is some type of bacteria in the
water, making it unfit for swimming. If this is correct, why did I see boaters, jetskiers, several of whom had people
on tubes they were pulling who were falling off several times, and therefore were ultimately swimming. Wouldn't
they have the same health risks that those swimming from shore would have? Second, I was swimming at this
lake on Sunday, June 30 and have been sick all week with moderate to severe stomach cramps, what exactly is
in the water that is making it unsafe, what are the signs that a person has contracted something from the water, is
this something that causes a severe health risk (basically, I havent seen a doctor yet, is this something that I
should see one about immediately if, in fact, Orono's water is the cause of me feeling sick.) I would really
appreciate a prompt answer to these questions. You can just reply to this email.
Thank you
Lindsay C.
7/8/2002