DEP: Testing reveals bacteria levels in Deal Lake remain high following sewage leak
Officials say that while it isn’t as bad as initially thought, there are still dangerous levels of bacteria in the lake.
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Bacteria testing at Deal Lake shows that parts of the lake are above the bathing beach criteria regarding levels of bacteria, according to the Department of Environmental Protection. This comes following a sewage leak at the lake earlier this week.
Officials say that while it isn’t as bad as initially thought, there are still dangerous levels of bacteria in the lake.
Officials originally overestimated that 67,000 gallons of sewage had leaked into the lake. However, they are now saying that while the volume of gallons of stormwater/sewage is still accurate, the ratio of sewage is less.
RELATED: Deal Lake to be tested after 67,000 gallons of sewage leaked into the water
The limit for safe beach bathing is 104 colonies per unit per 100 milliliters. Samples taken at Deal Lake have levels of 250 and 350 CFU/100ml.
According to the DEP, samples taken from the ocean have low levels of bacteria and the sewage spill in Deal Lake is not impacting the ocean bathing beaches.
Repairs to the sewer line are expected to be complete by Thursday at the latest.
