WEATHERBY LAKE, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources confirmed Saturday night that tests of water at Weatherby Lake contain “unacceptable levels of E. Coli.”
The high levels of E. Coli are attributed to a sewage bypass Wednesday night.
Authorities encourage residents to avoid all contact with the lake water “until further notice.”
According to a news release, crews with the DNR took five samples of water from the lake, with two of the samples reporting an E. Coli level more than 10 times the federal recommended maximum for swimming beaches.
Authorities estimate roughly 1,000 gallons of untreated or only partially-treated sewage spilled into the lake from a location near 8316 NW Forest Drive in Platte County.
On Wednesday night, a power failure stopped pumps at a Kansas City, Mo., Public Works lift station. While the pumps were off, sewage overflowed from a manhole into the lake.
Power to the lift station was restored quickly, but not before thousands of gallons of sewage ended up in the lake.
