Report on 4 Mile Lake Water Quality
Four Mile Lake continues to have some of the most pristine water of the Kawartha- even so there are postings once every so many years at the public beach.
Public beaches are posted when the water contains high levels of bacteria (germs) called Escherichia coli (E.coli). High amounts of E.coli in the water is an indicator of the presence of more serious, illness-causing organisms. Problems can range from minor eye, skin, ear, nose and throat infections to more serious illnesses such as gastrointestinal sickness.
Sometimes a beach will be posted due to other environmental contaminants that could affect the health and safety of bathers. These include items such as floating garbage, oils, scum, excessive weed growth, algae blooms, bad odors, or murky water.
August 2011 Water Quality Report by: Chris Ostrovski [August 2011]
Beach E.Coli testing results for FML public beach (East Side) – any reading under 100 units is good. These results were provided by the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge Health Unit (HKPR).
HKPR is responsible for testing and Posting (“Beach Closed”) any beach in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Beaches are posted when E. coli levels exceed 100 units.
June 06,2011 - 10 June 13, 2011 - 15.2 June 20, 2011 - 54.3 June 27, 2011 - 10 July 04, 2011 -11 July 11, 2011 - value not provided July 18, 2011 - 16.43 July 25,2011- value not provided August 01,2011 - value not provided August 08,2011 - 148 August 15, 2011 - 11.48
The FML beach was posted as a result of high E.coli reading at this location on August 08. The posting was removed shortly thereafter on re-testing when the E.coli levels were found to be back to normal ( about 10 - 15units) - FOUR MILE LAKE CONTINUES TO HAVE SOME OF THE CLEANEST WATER IN THE KAWARTHAS.
It is suspected that after weeks of heat and little rain the area received lots of water – washing all the dog, cat , bird, human etc. doodoos into the lake. Little wonder that the E.coli levels were higher. Further, the Public beach sits at the bottom of three paved downhill converging roads. the last time something similar occurred was in the summer of 2005 under similar circumstances.
