Ortonville- Recent testing for E.coli in Kearsley Creek shows elevated levels again, however it was not as high as officials expected.
A sampling of three locations in the creek showed levels of 1,283 colony forming units (near South Street just east of the Brandon Township Library); 739 CFU (near Ball and Francis streets) and 400 CFU (just north of Mill Street and west of Cedar Street).
The Oakland County Health Division deems levels of 300 colony forming units and above unsafe for full body contact (swimming). More than 1,000 CFU is unsafe for partial body contact.
‘We’re not concerned about those rates,? said Ron Fadoir, environmental planner for the Oakland County Drain Commission, which took the samples on June 6. ‘It was a wet weather event, we expected it higher than that.?
Fadoir explains that because the area had experienced rains shortly before testing, the E.coli levels can be elevated by dog or geese droppings, not necessarily due to sewage in the creek. He notes that even with the wet weather, two of the scores were better than a dry weather testing done on Kearsley Creek last year.
Testing last year in May and June found levels of CFU to be in the 600-700 range. Last September, E.coli levels near the Mill Street bridge were found to be 1,553 CFU and 1,300 CFU respectively.
‘If we get a long period of dry weather, we may test again, just to see where we’re at,? said Fadoir. ‘That’s where you’ll see if you have sewage sources showing up.?
Fadoir recommends residents use precaution when in or near the creek, wearing protective clothing such as waders or gloves and cleaning thoroughly afterwards.
He does not recommend being exposed for any extended length of time, and does not recommend swimming in any creek.