WEATHERBY LAKE, MO -
Weatherby Lake will be closed until further notice due to a sewage spill that occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The spill contaminated the lake with E coli.
"I don't know much about it, but it's dangerous," said Javada Brown, who's lived at Weatherby Lake for the last 25 years.
Ken Midkiff, who heads the campaign for Missouri Clean Water, agrees. He suggests Weatherby residents stay out of the water.
"If somebody is jumping off their boat dock in 65 degree water and the E. coli standard is exceeded, they're putting themselves at risk," he said.
Midkiff said that could mean anything from mild stomach and intestinal pains to death. Even so, a lone pontoon boat skirted the waters of Weatherby Lake on Sunday.
"I'm sure they're not touching the water," said Joyce McInerney, Weatherby Lake resident. "The boat is already in the water, so I expect some people will find this an irresistible day to be out there."
Just the kind of Indian Summer some had been hoping for. Besides that, experts say at 275 acres, Weatherby Lake just might be able to fix itself.
"We assume that by the next time the recreational season comes along, and the water warms up, that the E. coli level, if this does not occur, the E. Coli level will be within standards and be healthy again," said Midkiff.
Weatherby Lake residents said they had another sewage spill in August of 2008, but it cleared up within a few days. The Weatherby Lake city council will meet Tuesday night to talk about the latest spill.
"I don't know much about it, but it's dangerous," said Javada Brown, who's lived at Weatherby Lake for the last 25 years.
Ken Midkiff, who heads the campaign for Missouri Clean Water, agrees. He suggests Weatherby residents stay out of the water.
"If somebody is jumping off their boat dock in 65 degree water and the E. coli standard is exceeded, they're putting themselves at risk," he said.
Midkiff said that could mean anything from mild stomach and intestinal pains to death. Even so, a lone pontoon boat skirted the waters of Weatherby Lake on Sunday.
"I'm sure they're not touching the water," said Joyce McInerney, Weatherby Lake resident. "The boat is already in the water, so I expect some people will find this an irresistible day to be out there."
Just the kind of Indian Summer some had been hoping for. Besides that, experts say at 275 acres, Weatherby Lake just might be able to fix itself.
"We assume that by the next time the recreational season comes along, and the water warms up, that the E. coli level, if this does not occur, the E. Coli level will be within standards and be healthy again," said Midkiff.
Weatherby Lake residents said they had another sewage spill in August of 2008, but it cleared up within a few days. The Weatherby Lake city council will meet Tuesday night to talk about the latest spill.
