West Lake Monitoring and Stabilization: Information Regarding Your Water Source
As a resident of Clarke County, you may be receiving your water from the West Lake, especially if you are within the city limits. Are you aware that the lake gives up approximately a million gallons of watet per day for use in the water system? It is onstantly monitored by the city water board and also has samples taken regularly, sending them ot the State Hygenics Laboratory for testing.
Everyone wants to count on the water and be reassured that it will always be available and safe. There are many things that are done each year to make sure this continues to be a drinking source for the city and residents of Clake County.
WHAT IS DONE TO PROTECT YOUR LAKE
Sampling taken from May through September. Of six sites, four of those were contribution sites to the lake. The 2012 drought caused those contribution sites to dry up, with no water flowing to the lake.
Monitoring results show that there is excesses of phosphorous in the lake, and is possibly being cycled through algal blooms. When the lake is treated with sodium percarbonate and copper additives (algaecides), the dead algae release phosporous and make available more nutrients for the new algae to feed on.
Algal growth increases with warm temperatures and nutrients, so the lake is a perfect place for them to flourish. This is what many people see as the 'turning of the lake'.
Algaecides are an effective way of treating the algae in the lake, but it does promote low oxygen levels in the lake.
Low oxygen levels make it difficult to maintain aquatic life in the lake. Aquatic planning has taken place but with drought conditions, it was remotely successful.
YOUR FUTURE WATER SOURCE OPTIONS
Continue to use West Lake and treat it with algaecides. In drought years, this may cause the lake levels to drop to impose a water shortage.
Get involved in learning more about the Squaw Creek watershed and the proposals for a new reservoir to help rest West Lake.
Practice good conservation in your water use during non draught months, to help reserve water for chances of low water levels in the lake.
HELP PROTECT YOUR LAKE AND SUPPORT YOUR WATER SOURCE FOR THE FUTURE
