Georgina
July 16, 2008 06:49 PM
By: John Slykhuis
People should just use common sense and not go in the water if they have an open sore because of the presence of natural bacteria and dead fish, a York Region health official said.
“Currently, there are no health concerns for the public,” said York Region Health Services safe water program manager Bernard Mayer.
“Those bacteria that were found are naturally found in the environment, so they’re always present. From indications we got, there is no increase in those bacteria.”
Last week’s severe thunderstorm also created other problems as debris and contaminants were washed into the lake, resulting in several beach postings due to high E. coli levels.
The situation was further exacerbated by the continued dieoff of carp due to bacteria, although the number of dying carp is declining.
As a result, people with open sores and compromised immune systems were warned by Ministry of Natural Resources officials Monday to stay out of the water where dead carp are present.
The town-led cleanup continues, with help from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
At Monday’s council meeting, Mayor Rob Grossi said the town will submit a bill for the cleanup to the Ministry of Natural Resources, which, he said, “did not show any leadership” in dealing with the carp problem.
“We did,” he said, adding his thanks to the conservation authority, town works staff and the residents. “They all deserve a really big thumbs-up,” he said.
Councillor Ross Jamieson praised Mr. Grossi for taking the initiative to start the seven-day-a-week dead carp pickup and added there were a number of “heroes throughout the community” who volunteered in the cleanup campaign.