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3 Orlando lakes test high for bacteria levels after sewage spill

3 Orlando lakes test high for bacteria levels after sewage spill
WEBVTT ARE HOPING THE WARNINGS DO NOT LAST LONG, BUT CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NO TIMETABLE YET, SO FOR NOW THEY ARE WARNING AGAINST ANY CONTACT WITH THE WATER, INCLUDING FISHING AND EVEN USING IT FOR IRRIGATION. IN BETWEEN PICTURESQUE VIEWS ARE PICTURES WARNING WHAT NOT TO DO. SMALL SIGNS ARE POSTED NEAR SOME OF ORLANDO’S LAKES, CALLING THEM CONTAMINATED. THE CITY’S ISSUED ALERTS FOR LAKE FORMOSA, LAKE ROWENA AND LAKE SUE. ALL THREE OF THEM TESTED WITH HIGH LEVELS OF BACTERIA AFTER A NEARBY PRIVATE LIFT STATION MALFUNCTIONED. CITY OFFICIALS SAY A BROKEN VALVE SENT ABOUT A THOUSAND GALLONS OF SEWAGE INTO THE STREET AND THROUGH THE STORM WATER SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM AT THE LIFT STATION WAS FIXED AND A STRETCH OF THE NEIGHBORING URBAN TRAIL WAS CLEANED, BUT NOW THE RUNOFF LEAVES LINGERING CONCERN AT THE NEARBY LAKES. >> DEFINITELY NOT TRYING TO EAT ANY FISH OUT OF HERE. IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIRTY TODAY. MATT: BRENDAN GAINEY TELLS US HE HADN’T HEARD OF THE HEALTH WARNINGS, BUT SAID HE WAS ONLY ENJOYING GOOD WEATHER, AND HAD NO PLANS OF EATING ANYTHING HE FISHED FROM LAKE FORMOSA ANYWAY. >> USUALLY, I GO FOR CREEK FISH IF I’M GOING TO EAT SOMETHING BECAUSE IT’S CLEANER WATER. MATT: HE SAYS BIGGER OR ADDITIONAL SIGNS MIGHT BE A HELP . >> WHERE EVERYBODY PARKS, NO ONE’S GOING TO SEE IT. MATT: CITY OFFICIALS TELL US THAT BACTERIA TESTS WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE LAKE WATER AND ONCE THOSE LEV
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3 Orlando lakes test high for bacteria levels after sewage spill
One Orlando community is dealing with a stinky situation after a sewage spill in the area.Small signs are posted near some of Orlando's lakes to notify visitors of their contamination. The city's issued alerts for Lake Formosa, Lake Rowena and Lake Sue.All three lakes tested with high levels of bacteria after a nearby private lift station malfunctioned.City officials said a broken valve sent about 1,000 gallons of sewage into the street and through the stormwater system.The problem at the lift station was fixed and a stretch of the neighboring Urban Trail was cleaned, but the run-off leaves lingering concerns at the nearby lakes."Definitely not trying to eat any fish out of here. It looks a little dirty today," Brendan Gainey, who was fishing at Lake Formosa, said.Gainey said he hasn't heard of the health warnings, but said he was only enjoying the good weather and had no plans of eating anything he fished from Lake Formosa."Usually go for creek fish if I'm going to eat something because it's cleaner water," Gainey said.He said bigger or additional signs might be a help to get the word out.

One Orlando community is dealing with a stinky situation after a sewage spill in the area.

Small signs are posted near some of Orlando's lakes to notify visitors of their contamination.

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The city's issued alerts for Lake Formosa, Lake Rowena and Lake Sue.

All three lakes tested with high levels of bacteria after a nearby private lift station malfunctioned.

City officials said a broken valve sent about 1,000 gallons of sewage into the street and through the stormwater system.

The problem at the lift station was fixed and a stretch of the neighboring Urban Trail was cleaned, but the run-off leaves lingering concerns at the nearby lakes.

"Definitely not trying to eat any fish out of here. It looks a little dirty today," Brendan Gainey, who was fishing at Lake Formosa, said.

Gainey said he hasn't heard of the health warnings, but said he was only enjoying the good weather and had no plans of eating anything he fished from Lake Formosa.

"Usually go for creek fish if I'm going to eat something because it's cleaner water," Gainey said.

He said bigger or additional signs might be a help to get the word out.