NEWS: Wake Launches Recreational Waters Web Site

8/4/2009

Wake County has launched the Recreational Waters Web site today, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, to keep citizens informed of temporary closures and reopenings of beaches and lakes in the County due to elevated bacteria levels.

During the summer, the County frequently samples and tests public and private swimming areas for E. coli and enterococci bacteria. When bacteria levels exceed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, the area is closed to "primary contact recreation," which is swimming or any activity where your head may go underwater. The County monitors nine recreational beaches:

• Beaverdam at Falls Lake
• Camp Kanata
• Falls Lake
• Harris Lake
• Holly Point at Falls Lake
• Sandling Beach at Falls Lake
• Lake Wheeler
• New Life Camp
• Silver Lake

"Wake County Environmental Services is always looking for ways to share important information with citizens," said Environmental Services Director Tommy Esqueda. "The new Recreational Waters web page allows anyone to view the most recent bacteria levels recorded, and find out whether or not the recreational areas are open or closed."

The site includes policies and regulations that govern public and private swimming areas in the County, contact information for each swimming area or lake, and answers frequently asked questions related to closures. Citizens can also access a link to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web site for information on recreational water illnesses.

 

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