Swimmers at risk of getting sick after bacteria found in water at Buck Creek reservoir

MOOREFIELD TOWNSHIP — People enjoying a beach day at a Clark County lake packed up and left after News Center 7 told them there were high levels of E. Coli in the water.

>>PHOTOS: Sky 7 images of C.J. Brown Reservoir at Buck Creek State Park

News Center 7′s Kayla McDermott reports there is a high level of bacteria in the water at C.J. Brown Reservoir Buck Creek State Park.

There was only one sign they would find at the beach telling people there to swim at their own risk and most people who were enjoying themselves did not see it.

“Get out of the water,” people said. “Get out.”

Swimmers were having fun until she told them they were at risk of getting sick due to bacteria in the water.

“There’s high E Coli in the water right now. Did you know that?” McDermott asked a bunch of swimmers.

“No, ew.” they answered.

>>RELATED: High bacteria levels reported at Buck Creek reservoir

The Ohio Department of Health’s beach water quality board has the reservoir currently listed under a contamination advisory for E. Coli.

“We’re going to get sick,” one person said.

McDermott spoke with Doctor Roberto Colon, Chief Medical Officer for Premier Health. He said swallowing the water is how the bacteria can get into your system and could develop abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or E Coli can become even more serious.

“Some cases could actually be associated with blood - the vomit can be much more profuse, and people can become severely dehydrated,” he said.

>>RELATED: Buck Creek Marina closed as crews clean up ‘unidentified substance’ in water; Ohio EPA responding

Colon said the bacteria can also infect the bloodstream.

“Even more severely life-threatening condition,” he explained.

“It sounds like it’s going to make you sick really bad,” said Patrick Goold.

His group gathered their things and left.

“Maybe they shouldn’t let anyone over here near the beach,” he told McDermott.

That is Doctor Colon’s advice.

“Anytime that we are looking that potentially contaminated water, stay away from it,” he said.

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Some beachgoers did stay away from the water but hardly anyone on the beach saw the warning sign.

“I did not see a sign, no,” said Gould.

“We passed it, we didn’t see it,” Jan Wedell told McDermott.

Just one group of teenagers did, and they chose not to go down to the beach at all.

“I just don’t want to risk my health right now,” said Delaney Moore.

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McDermott says testing will happen once every two weeks on the water to check on the bacteria levels, according to this website.

The people she spoke with Thursday said they would like more signs than just one posted at the entrance and on the way down to the beach.

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Swimmers at risk of getting sick after bacteria found in water at Buck Creek reservoir Photo from: Eric Higgenbotham/Staff

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