WINONA LAKE - The cause of a Sept. 5 spill in Winona Lake is still unknown.
Winona Lake Preservation Association and Indiana Department of Environmental Management are continuing to investigate the issue.
WLPA had Sherry Laboratories, Warsaw, conduct water testing the week of Sept. 5.
The results were released to WLPA Friday and were negative for volatile contaminants.During the Sept. 14 Winona Lake town council meeting, councilwoman Joy Lohse said she received an e-mail from Patricia Miller, 2400 E. Winona Ave., dated Sept. 7.
In the e-mail, Miller said at her residence on Sept. 5 she discovered a milky substance in Winona Lake near her condo. It was approximately 75 feet out from the shoreline.
Miller is Lohse's neighbor and lives in Lohse's district she represents on the Winona Lake Town Council.
Miller said she contacted IDEM and Indiana Department of Natural Resources and said IDEM is investigating the issue as well as WLPA.
She also contacted Ed Rock, Kosciusko emergency management services director, who has had discussion with IDEM officials about the issue.
Rock said he arrived at the scene Sept. 5 and noted seeing a discolored area in the water about 60 by 100 feet.
During an interview Wednesday, Lohse said WLPA will be meeting the first week of October to discuss its next steps as the WLPA's goal is to protect and preserve the lake.
Lohse said IDEM and the Environmental Protection Agency have been contacted about the spill.
Lohse also said Warsaw officials were contacted the day after the spill and recently responded.
Warsaw officials are assessing the situation regarding storm water output into Winona Lake.
Discharge from Warsaw storm sewer outfalls located in residential and commercial areas drain into a main storm drain pipe that flows into Winona Lake.
Lohse said short term, WLPA plans to work with Warsaw, Winona Lake and Grace College on an educational approach to address the issue.
The long-term plan is that WLPA would like input, education and results from the expertise from IDEM, DNR and EPA to prevent future contamination or spills from Warsaw storm sewer outfalls.
Other areas WLPA would like to consider is rerouting water and retention ponds and stopping pollution at the source.
"WLPA needs someone with experience to provide direction and education about various options. WLPA is questioning why any water needs to flow into the lake from this storm drain pipe," Lohse said.
Lohse said while the contaminant has dissipated, WLPA's concern and drive to find a solution has not.
During an interview Wednesday afternoon, Amy Hartsock, IDEM public information officer, said IDEM is continuing to look into the issue.
Hartsock said IDEM worked closely with the local emergency management agency to ensure the situation Sept. 5 was assessed as quickly as possible.
She said IDEM contacted Rock, who was able to arrive at the scene more quickly than IDEM.
"The emergency management agency's observations on Sept. 5 were of a white substance that did not have a sheen and was dissipating rapidly. There were no signs of struggling wildlife or aquatic life and there was not continuing discharge, and the discharge was limited in quantity," Hartsock said.
Based on these observations, Hartsock said IDEM determined there was not a need for their immediate presence.
IDEM visited the site Sept. 9 with Rock, reviewed the incidents and photographs, discussed possible sources and have been researching potential causes.
With respect to sampling, samples can be analyzed for a wide variety of substances, and test results can be useful in identifying or confirming a suspected source, Hartsock said.
Hartsock said IDEM often works with a potential source or sources asking them to collect the samples IDEM believes are necessary.
She said IDEM does not have labs and samples collected are sent out for analysis.
IDEM uses the Indiana State Department of Health labs and follows their recommended procedures for the collection of samples.
Hartsock said future spills should be reported to the IDEM spill line, 888-233-7745.
