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City beach remains closed by bacteria

LOCK HAVEN – The water samples seemed to be improving, but that is not the case today and the Lock Haven City Beach must remain closed.

Samples indicate a high level of E. coli/fecal coliform bacteria in the water, so swimmers are advised against using the river just now.

Jack Bailey, city recreation director, is sampling the water every day and taking the samples to a lab in Williamsport to be tested. The testing process takes 22 hours.

Test results from earlier in the week showed a level of 36, which was moving in the right direction, Bailey said. He hoped that yesterday’s sample would come in at 28 or lower, the number needed for the state Department of Environmental Protection to okay re-opening the beach.

However, yesterday’s test came in at 52, he reported.

DEP, which has been “excellent” during this process, according to Bailey, suggested that the recent rain may have moved the level of bacteria higher in yesterday’s sample.

Other than that, Bailey said, “we have no idea” why the number isn’t falling.

With the high level recorded yesterday, he said, the next text must reveal the level of fecal coliform to be lower than 28 before the beach can be deemed safe.

Bailey had hoped to be able to re-open the beach Friday.

Today he said, “We’re still waiting.”

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