Washington State Department of Ecology

Publication Summary

Title

Quality Assurance Project Plan: Lake Bacteria Sampling Project

Month-Year Published

August 2003

Online Availability

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Short Description

This is the quality assurance project plan for the Lake Bacteria Sampling Project.

(Also see abstract below)

Publication Number

03-03-201

Author(s)

Bell-McKinnon, M.

Print Availability

Request from the program.

Number of pages

9 pp.

Keywords

assessment, bacteria, beach, environmental, health, lake, objectives, plan, quality, quality assurance, quality assurance project plan, sampling, standards, water, water quality, water quality standards

Location(s)

Seattle,
Tacoma

Abstract

Long Description

This project has been designed to assist local health agencies by providing them with monthly sampling results for bacteria presence (specifically E. coli and fecal coliform) at publicly used lakes. Currently there are no state regulations specifically written for swimming beach safety. However, the local health jurisdiction's responsibility to protect public health should necessitate that swimming areas be monitored to ensure the safety of the public. Due to growing financial constraints, this sampling can be increasingly difficult to do.

Objectives of the program include:

Collect samples and have a laboratory determine the concentration of E. coli and fecal coliform in water samples from a total of ten swimming beach areas in two counties.

Determine the pH, electrical conductivity, and temperature of a sample taken from each swimming beach area.

Compare results with the Washington State Water Quality Standards and any established county water quality standards for waters within their jurisdiction.

Notify the local health jurisdiction and any other identified interested parties of the results.

Integrate the results into the newly established Ecology BEACH (Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication and Health) Program public notification system.

This page last updated April 20, 2009