April 15, 2003

NO SWIMMING:
ADVISORY ISSUED FOR LAKE NORMAN COVE
AFTER SEWAGE DISCHARGE

Charlotte, NC - A NO SWIMMING advisory has been issued for a cove off Jetton Road on Lake Norman after a sewage discharge.  The Mecklenburg County Water Quality Program (MCWQP) and the Mecklenburg County Health Department issued the advisory on Monday, April 14, 2003 for a cove near 18025 Jetton Road in The Peninsula community in Cornelius.

The "no swimming" advisory was issued after a sewage discharge was observed entering Lake Norman from a failing pump station operated by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities that serves The Peninsula community.  The duration of the discharge was approximately four hours and resulted in the release of approximately 33,600 gallons of sewage into Lake Norman.  The discharge was discovered on Monday, April 14, by CMU staff and actions have been taken to eliminate the discharge and repair the failing pump station.

Water samples were collected today by the Mecklenburg County Water Quality Program and sampling will be ongoing until levels of fecal coliform bacteria fall below 200-colonies/100 ml, which is the level determined to be safe for swimming.  The affected swimming/beach areas will be posted with "no swimming" signs and buoys for the duration of the advisory.

MCWQP Manager Rusty Rozzelle said the advisories are standard procedure. "It was necessary to close the areas to recreation because of the potential risk to human health as Lake Norman is designated as recreational waters," said Rozzelle.