Stormwater Utility
Lake
Alert Program
Updated:
January 27, 2012
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Type of water pollution or concern:
Sewage Overflow into Lake Lawne
Location – In the vicinity of Mercy Dr and W.
New Hampshire Dr.
Cause – A
multi-family residential community experienced a blockage in
their private sanitary system, causing sewage to overflow into
their stormwater system, discharging sewage directly into Lake
Lawne.
Result – Approximately 500
-1,000 gallons of sewage is estimated to have entered Lake
Lawne.
City Response – On January 26,
2012, City Wastewater personnel responded to and investigated
the sewage overflow that occurred on private property. Surface
pollutant material was removed from the parking lot to prevent
further runoff to Lake Lawne. Simultaneously, City Stormwater
personnel took several bacteria samples of the lake water to
measure the potential impact of the spill.
As a health
precaution, the City is advising that all water contact
activities and irrigation cease until further notice. In the
meantime, the City will be collecting bacteria samples on a
routine basis. Once bacteria counts drop to acceptable State
Water Quality Standards, the Lake Alert Hotline number and the
City's Lake Alert website will be updated. In addition,
warning signs placed at the Barnett Park boat ramp will be
removed.
Public Notification – Please
continue to call the Lake Alert number, 407.246.2220, for the
most up-to-date information regarding your lake. During
weekdays, the City's Lake Alert website,
www.cityoforlando.net/lakealert will also have the latest
information. In addition, the City will send another email
advising email subscribers when it is safe to return using the
lake for recreational and irrigation purposes. Orange County
Environmental Protection Division has placed warning signs at
the boat ramp to alert the public at Barnett Park.
For
further information, please contact Lisa Lotti, Stormwater
Compliance Program Manager with the City of Orlando Streets
and Stormwater Division. She can be reached at 407.246.2037.
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WHAT IS A LAKE ALERT?
To
address citizen concerns related to water quality, the Stormwater
Section has developed a new public information system, "Lake
Alert," to provide seasonal and localized warnings (and
updates) for City of Orlando lakes. Here you will find
information related to lakes where water
quality is a concern, as in the case of a sanitary overflow or
following an atypical rainfall or long durations of rain.
Please check here for updates, including the type of water quality
hazard and severity and to be notified when the waterbody is safe
again for recreational purposes. Updates to this site
will be made during City of Orlando normal business hours
ONLY. Call the Lake Alert Recorded Message at 407.246.2220
for information 24 hours a day.
***For email notification of
Lake Alerts on areas of your interest, please continue to the Lake
Alert sign-up form.***
WHAT
WILL A LAKE ALERT LOOK LIKE?
Here’s an example:
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Type
of water pollution or concern:
brief
summary of details, including pertinent dates and times of
pollution occurrence, water quality sample collection, if
applicable, and posting of signs.
Location – exact location of spill and lake impacted
Cause – how the pollution occurred
Overflow – estimate of quantity of pollution
discharged into the lake
City
response
– how the pollution was
and will be treated prior to the removal of lake water quality
warnings
Public notification – how the public will be notified
of the potential pollution source
Name, title, affiliation, and contact information of party to
which questions can be directed.
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LAKE ADVISORIES (ONGOING)
1.
WARM WATER WARNINGS:
Avoid
Naegleria
fowleri
and primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)
Parasitic
disease caused by Naegleria is very rare—only a few hundred cases
have ever been reported—however a few common sense precautions
will protect people from acquiring this and other water borne
infections:
- Avoid
swimming in very warm water, especially if it is shallow and/or
stagnant (not moving). The majority of PAM cases have resulted
from exposure to water that is 26°C (80°F) or warmer.
- Avoid
taking in water through the nose while swimming, diving, water
skiing, or jumping into water. A nose clip can be used to
prevent water being forced up the nose.
- Stay
out of the water if “No Swimming” signs are posted.
- Do
not swim in swimming pools that are very warm or that are not
properly maintained, even if the water is chlorinated. Naegleria
fowleri is resistant to chlorine.
2.
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOMS:
Know the facts about health concerns related to blue-green algae
exposure
Blue-green
algae are simple plants that occur in water and wet areas. An
algae "bloom" is a rapid buildup of algae that creates a
green, blue-green or brown color on the surface of the water.
They are often found in standing water in lakes and ponds near the
shoreline. Warm, calm water and nutrients contribute to the
rapid growth of algae. Blooms can occur any time of year, but
are typically observed from the early spring to the fall in Central
Florida.
Only
a few types of blue-green algae are known to produce toxins,
however, there is no way to determine visually whether or not a
bloom is toxic. If you suspect and algae bloom is present, it
is best to stay out of the water, keep pets away, and contact the
City of Orlando Stormwater Hotline at 407.246.2370. If
you do contact the water, wash thoroughly with a clean source of
water. Do not use the affected water for drinking or cooking
as toxins cannot be removed with filtration, boiling, or chemical
treatments. However, activities near the water are
safe. Eating fish caught during a bloom can pose a health
risk.
If
toxic algae is swallowed it can cause diarrhea, nausea, cramps,
fainting, numbness, dizziness, tingling, and paralysis. Skin
contact can cause rashes or irritation. Children and pets are
at greatest risk.
Characteristic
images of algae blooms:
 |
 |
| Appears as green paint
spill on surface.
|
Appears as spongy green
mat on surface. |
3.
DO NOT SWIM IN LAKES DIRECTLY AFTER ATYPICAL RAINFALL EVENTS:
The
sanitary and stormwater sewers are two separate systems in the City
of Orlando, meaning that stormwater enters natural waterways through
storm drains, and sanitary sewage (wastewater) is transported for
treatment to the wastewater plant.
Despite this separation, following unusually heavy
rainfall there is the potential for sanitary sewage overflow, which
can carry bacteria from untreated sewage onto paved areas, into
storm drains, and into our lakes commonly used for recreational
purposes.
In
short, please delay your recreational activities at the lakes until
48 hours following an unusually heavy rainstorm, particularly those
activities that involve people or pets entering the water directly
or during which water could be swallowed (examples:
jet skiing, water skiing or swimming).
People who fish within the 48-hour window should wash their
hands after touching the water. Anyone who wants to eat fish caught
in the city lakes within the 48-hour window should cook them
thoroughly to kill bacteria.
Why
48 hours? Over the 48
hours, lakes left standing without disturbance provides time for any
bacteria to settle to the bottom, somewhat purifying the surface
water.
Contact 407.246.2370 or e-mail
for information about Lake Alert.
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