Dirty lakes, beaches cost Iowans summer fun, profit

By PERRY BEEMAN • pbeeman@dmreg.com • May 25, 2008     

Iowa has launched an unprecedented, multimillion-dollar campaign to clean recreational lakes dogged by occasionally high bacteria levels, smelly algae blooms and cloudy water that turns off fun-seekers. As Iowans fully shift into warm-weather recreation mode this weekend, data from Iowa State University and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources provide the most detailed look yet on how Iowa's lakes stack up against water-quality standards.Map/database: Find your favorite lake to see if the water is clean.

Yet annual monitoring since 2000 shows much of the news at Iowa's lakes isn't good. A Des Moines Sunday Register analysis of state monitoring data and university reports shows:

 • All 37 state-park beach swimming areas have had too much bacteria at some point in the past eight years - and some were way over health standards at times.

• Eleven of the 25 most-visited lakes were among those with the highest potential risk of causing rashes, diarrhea or other illnesses from swimming. They were: Big Creek, Geode, Manawa, Clear, Macbride, George Wyth, Black Hawk, North Twin, Beeds, Swan and Brushy Creek. Experts say those illnesses are relatively rare and minor, but they do happen.

That information is driving work to restore lakes that generate $1.6 billion in spending and labor income in Iowa each year, and are capable of attracting even more if water quality improves, Iowa State University economists found.  Read more about this article....
                  

Kelly Park Rock Springs Closed because High Bacteria Levels............By Anna Boyd 17:05, May 26th 2008                         

Orange County’s Kelly Park was closed on Friday because of high bacteria levels found in the water of the popular Rock Springs Run.The Florida Department of Health, which is currently running an investigation, said the picnic area and campgrounds would remain open at the park located at 400 E. Kelly Park Roadin Apopka, but swimming would not be allowed until after the Memorial Day weekend.This is not the first time when the park’s waters were found to have high levels of bacteria. In the past, the bacteria present in the water were linked with diaperaccidents, septic-tank seepage and intestinal tracts of animals.Orange County’s Environmental Protection Division will conduct weekly testing to determine when the springs will reopen for swimming, a county representative said, the local newspaper, Orlando Sentinel reported.  Read more.......


Swimmers’ safety depends on pools' pH, chlorine levels 

By MEAGAN SEXTON STAFF WRITER..Published Friday, April 04, 2008

One more thing to put in your vacation suitcase: a swimming pool test kit. “We actually recommend that people go buy test kits and test the chlorine and pH levels in the pool before they go swimming,” said Michele Hlavsa, epidemiologist for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A concern for pool safety emerged this week when the Illinois Department of Public Health began investigating whether children became sick after swimming in the pool at the Baymont Inn, over the weekend.
   

Pool water can lead to infection 

SPRINGFIELD — If you are packing for a trip and plan to swim in a hotel pool, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend you also pack a pool test kit. “We actually recommend that people go buy test kits at their local hardware store or pool supply store and test the chlorine and pH levels in the pool before they go swimming,” said Michele Hlavsa, epidemiologist for the organization. Levels of pH refer to acidity or alkalinity of the water. In the last five years, Winnebago County had at least three outbreaks of recreational water illnesses at community or hotel pools or water parks. A concern for pool safety emerged this week when the Illinois Department of Public Health began investigating whether children became sick after swimming in a hotel pool in Springfield over the weekend. Read more.........
   

388 cases of illness from NY water park  

Tue Mar 25, 12:34 PM ET ...QUEENSBURY, N.Y. - The number of people reporting illnesses after an outbreak of norovirus at an indoor water parkin upstate New York is approaching 400.

State health officials say 388 cases have been reported by people who visited the Six FlagsGreat Escape Lodge and Indoor Water Park earlier this month.

Health officials say two people were hospitalized and both have been released.

Norovirus is characterized by acute gastrointestinal pain, vomiting and diarrhea lasting one or two days. The illness is not considered dangerous to the general public.

Four of the people infected and their families have filed a lawsuit against the water park, which is about 50 miles north of Albany.

A Great Escape spokeswoman says she can't comment on the pending litigation.