Water quality generates worries w/ link to reporting data

By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

CARTHAGE, Mo. — The reaction was dramatic after state officials learned that bacteria levels at Lake of the Ozarks made beaches there unsafe for swimming over the Memorial Day weekend.

True, much of the response stemmed from the fact that the information was withheld until July by state officials, some of whom may have believed that the revelation would hurt business at the lake during the first holiday of the summer. After disciplinary action involving the director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and other workers, Gov. Jay Nixon in September announced plans to target businesses and other entities contributing to pollution in the central Missouri lake.

Area residents who were splashing around in streams and rivers in Jasper County about the same time probably were not aware that local waters had levels of E. coli bacteria just as high as those that, according to the state, should have closed the beaches at Lake of the Ozarks.

In fact, all but two of the 21 sites sampled by the Jasper County Health Department on May 28, three days after Memorial Day, had E. coli levels that exceeded those that state standards deem as suitable for swimming.

Three sites on Center Creek — at High Street in Sarcoxie, at Cedar Road and County Road 180, and on County Road 110 — had bacteria levels more than 10 times the state standard for swimming. Sites on Spring River in and near Carthage were nearly that high. In fact, sampling at 18 different times during the summer showed levels above state standards about half the time at the 21 testing sites.

Stream team

Elevated E. coli levels often are found after heavy rains due to runoff, and heavy rains were cited as a factor in the test results locally and at Lake of the Ozarks. High levels of the bacteria indicate the presence of microorganisms that increase the risk for illness. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever; minor swimming illnesses include ear, eye, nose and throat infections.

The state’s response at Lake of the Ozarks was an announcement that there would be a new zero-tolerance policy for polluting the lake, along with a comprehensive study of water quality, testing for E. coli, pesticide and petroleum pollution, and an evaluation of about 400 operations near the lake that have wastewater permits. Since then, at least two housing associations have been referred to Missouri’s attorney general for enforcement action targeting improper operation of wastewater treatment systems.

Concerns about elevated E. coli levels in local waterways were raised more than five years ago when a stream team at Carthage High School began sampling for the bacteria. High levels were detected immediately, but the testing drew no reaction from local officials or the state, said Wayne Christian, a CHS science teacher who sponsored the student team.

“We tried to get their attention, but I don’t think anyone really gave a damn,” he said. “We went to great lengths to establish our testing program, but I never got the impression anyone was interested in the results. They would have preferred that we just picked up trash.”

Christian’s group also discussed test results with members of the Jasper County Commission, and called for warnings to be posted at swimming sites when bacteria levels were high. No signs were ever posted.

“I thought we were doing that, and I think we ought to follow up,” said John Bartosh, presiding county commissioner.