HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Update: Lake Catherine State Park announced that the swim beach at the park has reopened, as of May 31. Park officials said that recent testing confirmed that water samples met the standards for reopening.
Arkansas State Parks officials announced this week that the swimming beach at Lake Catherine State Park in Hot Springs is closed until further notice.
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ), has been informed of sanitary sewer overflows from the collection systems along Gulpha Creek.
But some residents said this has been happening for years.
Bill Volland owns property along Gulpha Creek and said he planned to build a business there. However, the manhole near his property prevents that.
"It gets to smelling so bad and flies and stuff all around," said Volland.
The manhole overflows, spewing sewage into the water, and now E. Coli levels are elevated.
The Arkansas Department of Health tests extensively for E. coli at swim beaches if the number of CFU per 100 milliliters is above 126.
According to testing done by the City of Hot Springs last week, there were 2419 CFU per 100 milliliters, roughly 20 times the amount.
David Sellers said he's been working since last year to find a way to get the water tested and diluted.
"There's a lot of people from out of town that may actually park up there and come down here and wade in the water," Sellers said.
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment has also been actively working with the City of Hot Springs to clean up the impacted areas and to sample and monitor them. The DEQ also requires the City of Hot Springs to monitor the algae and water quality in Spencer Bay and Lake Catherine.
Click here for more information on other swim beaches in Arkansas that have been closed by the Arkansas Department of Health.
