As temperatures increase, some lake goers will have to avoid using Pike Lake beach this week.
The Warsaw Park Department was advised Tuesday afternoon by the Kosciusko County Health Department to close Pike Lake beach, according to Kosciusko County Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver.
The health department was conducting routine E. coli testing Monday when high E. coli levels were found in the lake after test results came in Tuesday, Weaver said.
The last time Pike Lake beach was closed due to high E. coli levels was last July.
The health department was conducting routine E. coli testing at all public beaches in the county Monday.
The department conducts the E. coli testing every year from Memorial Day until Labor Day. The testing is done at the department's facility and takes 24 hours to complete.
The department took four samples Tuesday and three of the four samples showed high E. coli levels today, Weaver said.
Although a sign was posted Tuesday evening advising swimmers that the beach was closed, people ignored the sign.
"It is hard to police the area. The only thing we can do is warn people with a sign not to use the lake," Weaver said.
Pike Lake beach was tested for E. coli again this morning and the health department will know the results Thursday.
An health department employee is sent out to test the water at two sites at the bathing area at a minimum of 25 feet from shore.
If tests show there are more than 235 colonies of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water, the beach is closed. The department takes two water samples from each site every Monday.
Two samples taken the same day with E. coli counts of less than 235 colonies per 100 milliliters of water is required for reopening the beach to the public.
"The biggest problem in the area is from sources such as wildlife, ducks and geese releasing their waste, and it getting into the water," Weaver said.
He said Pike Lake beach will reopen this weekend if there are not high E. coli levels in the water.
