Don’t drink the water

By Sharon Salyer

Herald Writer

What could an area lake have in common with a poorly cooked hamburger?

Both may contain the dangerous E. coli bacterium that can sicken and sometimes kill those who come in contact with it.

That’s why warnings about the dangers of E. coli — and simple safety precautions — are being posted on signs and distributed in pamphlets at public freshwater beaches this summer at the request of the Snohomish Health District.

The potential for water-caused illness was documented in a 1999 E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in a Clark County lake. Thirty-six people were sickened.

A similar problem at a Georgia water park in 1998 affected 26 people, and one child died.

Lowdown on lakes

Area freshwater lakes where information on preventing the spread of germs, including E. coli, is available from the Snohomish Health District:

Blackman’s Lake (Ferguson and Hill parks)

Gissberg (North &South)

Lake Goodwin (county park and Wenberg State Park)

Lake Stevens (Kiwanis, Lundeen, Sunset, Wyatt)

Martha Lake (Mill Creek)

Camp Brinkley (near Lake Rosiger)

Lake Martha (near Warm Beach)

Lake Bronson (private club near Sultan)

Hidden Valley Camp (south of Snohomish)

CYO Camp Hamilton (north of Monroe)

"We’re saying … these are the risks and precautions, read this as you walk into the lake and decide if that’s what you want to do," said Rick Miklich, food and living manager for the Snohomish Health District.

Because lake water isn’t treated with chemicals to control the spread of disease, if swallowed it can sometimes cause illness because of bacteria, viruses or parasites in the water.

But as the outbreak in Georgia shows, even pools treated with chlorine can be contaminated, said Marcia Goldoft, medical epidemiologist for the state Health Department.

"If children are not toilet-trained and in diapers, they will be contaminating the water," she said.

"People don’t like to hear it," she acknowledged of children wading in lakes or pools. "It’s hot. Children enjoy it. It’s fun.

"I’m simply making the recommendation," she added. "When children are in diapers in wading pools, there’s real potential for fecal contamination that overwhelms chlorination."

E. coli contamination of lakes can be caused by leaking septic tanks, dogs, children with soiled diapers, high numbers of bathers and long spells of hot weather without rainfall, Miklich said.

"Part of the language of the signs (posted at public beaches) says that if you have kids in diapers, it’s probably better to keep them out" of the water, Miklich said. Even when children wear rubber swim pants, lake water can be contaminated by bacteria from diapers.

Recommendations to swimmers include:

Anyone with an infectious illness, including vomiting or diarrhea within the past week, should not enter the water.

Everyone should shower thoroughly before entering the water.

Children who are not toilet-trained, especially those in diapers, should not enter the water.

Small children should be taken on frequent bathroom breaks to avoid contaminating the water.

Everyone, especially children, should thoroughly wash their hands with soapy water after using the restroom or changing diapers and before entering the water.

Swimmers should wash their hands and face thoroughly with soapy water after swimming and before eating or preparing food.

Pets should not be allowed in public bathing beach waters or nearby in-flowing streams and should be kept on a leash at all times. Pet droppings should be immediately collected by the owner and disposed of in a sanitary manner.

Waterfowl should not be fed or otherwise encouraged to be in the public bathing beach area.

The health district also says convenient restrooms and hand-washing facilities should be available to bathers to help stop spread of bacteria or other germs.

You can call Herald Writer Sharon Salyer at 425-339-3486

or send e-mail to salyer@heraldnet.com.