Indy Parks and Recreation has closed Eagle Creek Beach until further notice after a routine water test found “elevated levels of E. Coli,” according to a June 25 social media post from Eagle Creek Park.
The beach will be closed for the foreseeable future, but a dozen beaches and pools remain open to the public, as well as 16 splash pads throughout Indianapolis. They might not be a good choice for beating the heat, though, as the National Weather Service predicts several days of thunder that will roll into the area beginning on the evening of June 27.
E. coli levels can spike during and immediately after periods of heavy rainfall and high heat. Central Indiana is at the tail end of a heat wave, which may also be responsible for bacterial contamination in Hamilton County waterways earlier this week.
On June 25, the Fishers Health Department issued a public health advisory after tests found evidence of E. coli in both the White River and Fall Creek.
The presence of E. coli in water is indicative of fecal contamination, which could come from agricultural or sewage runoff.
There are many strains of E. coli, according to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Most are “harmless,” the agency says, while some strains can cause serious gastrointestinal illness, urinary tract infections or respiratory problems.
Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Eagle Creek Beach closed to swimmers after test finds elevated levels of E. coli
Reporting by Ryan Murphy, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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