The lakes in a Locust Grove neighborhood continue to be impacted by high E.coli and harmful algae blooms.
The issues first started last month, when a storm damaged Rapidan Service Authority’s (RSA) vacuum sewer collection state at the Lake of the Woods back gate. Initially, it was thought a small amount of sewage had passed through and may have been released into the community’s Main Lake via flood waters. That was later found to be false according to RSA officials, but it triggered increased testing in both the 500-acre manmade Main Lake and the 24-acre Keaton’s Lake.
The test levels have revealed higher than usual E.coli concentrations, intermittently closing the lakes and several beaches including over the holiday weekend. Virginia Department of Health’s safe E.coli level is 235 cfu/100ml or less.
As of Wednesday, E.coli levels have dropped within the safe limits at most locations except for the Clubhouse Beach. It remains closed due to a level of 1119.9 cfu/100ml. All other beaches have reopened.
Harmful algae blooms are also inhibiting residents’ enjoyment of the lakes and beaches. On June 30, Keaton’s Lake was closed due to test results indicating potentially toxic cyanobacteria (PTOX) concentrations ranging from 22,600-89,900 cells/ml. The neighborhood’s protocol closes a lake at PTOX values greater than 50,000 cells/ml. Control treatments were being applied. As of Wednesday, the lake remained closed. The most recent test samples were collected Tuesday, following a treatment conducted by Solitude Lake Management. A second treatment is expected within the next few days.
According to LOW Officials, elevated bacteria levels are not unusual after heavy rainfall due to stormwater runoff entering the lake. This can cause E.coli levels to spike quickly, officials said. No single source of bacteria has been identified and officials said it may not be possible to identify one. However, officials said they are in close contact with RSA with the authority confirming there have been no known leaks into the lake since the June 15 storm.
Water quality testing will continue at an accelerated rate until E.coli levels stabilize and remain below health-based thresholds.
