2024 Fall Water Quality Results
Well we can’t believe how fast summer has come to and end which means this is our last Water Quality Report for 2024. We’ve put together all the testing we have done below and the Fall numbers are outlined in green. The season is ending with normal pH levels and higher Dissolved Oxygen across the board from last year. Our water temperatures have cooled off with the 40 - 50 degree nights and seasonal turnover is happening, where mixing waters redistribute oxygen, making it more available to plants and animals. The E.coli numbers are the big stand out again. In Rose Lake they are fine but in Bingham Lake, where we test at the beach area, the level is higher than recommended for swimming. The presence of waterfowl, at the beach, is what we believe is the cause of this higher number. The Fiesta Shores Association and their Beach Representative have been notified. We will be taking another sample on 9/11 to see if it still remains high and keep you posted. ** The new sample taken on 9/11 produced a much lower E.coli level of 14.** Total Phosphorus, Suspended Solids and Nitrogen are all finishing off the year at normal levels. With all the rain its been an interesting year from a lake health perspective. We would like to thank all of the volunteers that help take water samples and all the residents who donate to keep the Lake Health initiatives moving forward.
pH is an indication of our lake's acid level. Neutral water, like distilled water, has a 7 pH level. Any measurement below 7 is considered acidic. Low pH levels affect fish spawning to the point of extinction. For humans, low pH levels increase the concentration of heavy metals like aluminum, zinc, and mercury.
When there are high E. coli counts there are three indicators in a lake to consider rain, large presence of waterfowl, and many people. Rain produces ground water that runs into the lake and carries with it E. coli. Bird feces contribute disease causing bacteria to the water. And, beach areas with many people swimming tend to have higher levels of E. coli.
Dissolved Oxygen (O2) is undoubtedly the most important of the gases, since most aquatic organisms need it to survive. The solubility of oxygen and other gases depends on water temperature. The colder the water, the more gases it can hold. Boiling water removes all gases. Oxygen is produced whenever green plants grow. Plants use carbon dioxide and water to produce simple sugars and oxygen, using sunlight as the energy source.
Phosphorus promotes excessive aquatic plant growth. Phosphorus originates from a variety of sources, many of which are related to human activities. Major sources include human and animal wastes, soil erosion, detergents, septic systems and runoff from farmlands or lawns.
The Total Suspended Solids numbers relate to water clarity, especially the amount of algae present.
Nitrogen is second only to phosphorus as an important nutrient for plant and algae growth. Precipitation is usually the main nitrogen source for seepage and some drainage lakes. In most cases, however, the amount of nitrogen in lake water corresponds to local land use. Nitrogen may come from fertilizer and animal wastes on agricultural lands, human waste from sewage treatment plants or septic systems, and lawn fertilizers used on lakeshore property. Nitrogen may enter a lake from surface runoff or groundwater sources.
