OLYMPIA, Wash. — Sewage is polluting Ward Lake in Olympia, and no one seems to know where it's coming from or when the water might be safe again.
The Thurston County Health Department said test show fecal coliform bacteria are at 10 times the normal level and until those numbers go down the lake is off limits to people and pets. Officials called the levels of bacteria "unsafe."
The county says the results indicate "a significant new source of pollution" is affecting the lake, which is south of Interstate 5 and east of the state Capitol.
Officials closed the lake on Friday, posting signs that warn people against swimming and wading.
Much of the lake is surrounded by private homes, but there are public access spots, including a boat ramp that the Department of Fish and Wildlife has closed.
The source of the bacteria is a mystery.
There were minor problems with a nearby sewer pump station, but not enough to cause the problem, officials said.
New test results are due on Thursday.
Ward Lake is 65 acres, it's 67 feet at its deepest and there's 1 1/2 miles of shoreline around it.
KIRO
