| Contacts: | MJ Byrne | , 208-384-3393 | ||
| Carrie Wontorcik | , 2-8-384-3433 |
Cove Recreation Site Water Contaminated with E. coli
Boise – The Bureau of Land Management announced Thursday, August 19, that test results of the public water system at the Cove Recreation Site identified the presence of E. coli. Results indicated the levels have been found to exceed the Maximum Containment Level (MCL) (the maximum amount of a contaminant allowed in water delivered to a user of any public water system) established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 and 2004.
Cove Recreation Site is located at the CJ Strike Reservoir, 45 miles south of Boise. Travelling from Grandview, Cove is approximately 15 miles south east on Highway 78.
On Thursday, BLM representatives notified campers at the site, with hand-delivered Drinking Water Warning information sheets warning of the contaminant presence. Signs about the water contamination were also placed on information kiosks and at several other locations around the recreation site.
The source of the contamination is unknown at this time. The BLM is already taking corrective actions, including chlorinating and flushing the water system and temporarily turning off all potable water sources (i.e. hydrants, RV dump, etc…) so that campers, and especially children, will not accidently drink from them. When the type and source of the contamination are verified, additional corrective actions will be taken. In the interim, the potable water system will remain shut down while the source of the contamination is investigated.
E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.