Claystone Park swimming area closed by E. coli concerns

Water tests at Lake Tobesofkee have found elevated levels of E. coli in the swimming area of Claystone Park, which has been closed temporarily.

According to a news release late Friday night from Macon-Bibb County spokesman Chris Floore, tests conducted by lake park rangers and the Macon Water Authority confirmed the high levels of the bacteria. Its presence indicates contamination by fecal matter. The news release said higher-than-normal levels of E. coli can happen after a rain as pollution washes into the lake, including waste matter from water birds such as ducks and geese, and other animals.

The county’s Parks and Recreation Department and managers of Lake Tobesofkee jointly decided to close the Claystone swimming area through Sunday “to let the pollutants dissipate,” the release said. Meanwhile, the swimming areas at Sandy Beach and Arrowhead Park will remain open.

Normal E. coli levels should be 190 colony forming units per 100 milliliters of water, but tests conducted Wednesday showed the levels to be 249 colony forming units, the release said. Results from a Thursday recheck came back Friday, and the levels had risen to 548 colony forming units, he said. Another test is scheduled for Saturday morning.

This story was originally published June 10, 2016 at 10:59 PM with the headline "Claystone Park swimming area closed by E. coli concerns."