Acton Lake under advisory after testing shows high E. coli levels in water
Anyone looking to escape the sweltering, early summer heat may want to think twice before taking a dip at Lake Acton in Hueston Woods State Park.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, the lake remains under a bacteria contamination advisory, which was first put in place Tuesday.
The department cited high bacteria levels, specifically E. coli, as the reason for the advisory.
An individual sample tested Monday from a monitoring location in Hueston Woods valued at 866.4 colony-forming units/100ml, the department's data show. A value of 2419.6 cfu/100ml was measured at the lake earlier this month.
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The Ohio Department of Natural Resources samples the lake for bacteria once every two weeks unless the tested levels exceed 235 colony-forming units.
People who swim or come in contact with water containing elevated E. coli levels are at increased risk of illness, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is considered an "indicator organism" that's used to identify fecal contamination in freshwater, as well as the possible presence of viruses and disease-carrying bacteria.
The 625-acre Acton Lake sits in Butler and Preble counties roughly 40 miles northwest of Cincinnati, offering swimming, fishing and boating to Hueston Woods visitors. The most recent sampling results can be found on the Ohio Department of Health's website.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: High E. coli level found in Acton Lake at Hueston Woods State Park
