What level of E. coli is acceptable?
- "The acceptable level of E. coli is determined by risk analysis based on
statistics to protect human health. Drinking water should have no E. coli after
treatment. E. coli levels at designated swimming beaches should not
exceed 88 per 100 milliliter (mL) in any one sample, or exceed
a three-sample average over a 60-day period of 47/100mL.
Recreational waters that are not designated beaches should not
have more than 406 E. coli/100mL in any one sample, or more than
126/100mL in a 60-day, three-sample average. Occasional higher
numbers are not unusual, particularly after storm events
and where urban or agricultural runoff occurs.
These levels are generally not considered unsafe unless investigation
indicates the source to be sewage."
From DES
Environmental Fact Sheet - Bacteria In Surface Waters
Millville Lake E. coli levels - Great News!
June 2002 - 27 CTS/100mL
July 2002 - 9 CTS/100mL
August 2002 - 2 CTS/100mL