What the Latest Water Quality Report Reveals at the Lake Lure Beach

NCDEQ sample collected July 1 showed an E. coli concentration of 114 MPN/100 mL, as state officials urge caution around discolored water and potential algal blooms.

LAKE LURE, N.C. — The latest water quality sample collected at Lake Lure Swim Beach falls within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended recreational water quality guidance for freshwater recreation, according to data published by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Resources (NCDEQ DWR).

The sample, collected July 1 at 12:38 p.m. at the Lake Lure swim beach monitoring location in the Broad River Basin, measured an E. coli concentration of 114 most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliters.

The EPA's recommended recreational water quality criteria for freshwater recreation include a geometric mean threshold of 126 E. coli organisms per 100 milliliters, a benchmark widely used by states to evaluate long-term recreational water quality conditions. At 114 MPN/100 mL, the Lake Lure sample was 12 points below that recommended threshold.

Additional measurements taken by state officials included a dissolved oxygen level of 7.45 milligrams per liter, specific conductivity of 49.94 microsiemens per centimeter, and a water temperature of 33.76 degrees Celsius, or approximately 92.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Turbidity data were not reported.

State officials emphasize that water samples represent a snapshot in time and that conditions can change rapidly due to rainfall, runoff, wildlife activity, recreational use, and other environmental factors. "(We) cannot tell users when it is safe to swim," NCDEQ officials said in a press release. "The results posted to the dashboard are considered preliminary, and are intended to help the public make informed decisions about their own risk." The agency's public monitoring map does not designate waters as "safe" or "unsafe" based on a single sample result.

The July 1 test comes as Lake Lure continues recovering from the historic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Since the storm, state, federal, and local crews have removed millions of cubic yards of debris and sediment from Lake Lure and waterways throughout western North Carolina. 

As residents and visitors head to area lakes and rivers for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, NCDEQ's Division of Water Resources is also urging the public to avoid contact with discolored water that could indicate the presence of an algal bloom.

State officials note that while algae occur naturally in all water bodies, certain environmental conditions — including elevated temperatures, increased nutrients, abundant sunlight and low water flow — can lead to rapid algae growth. Some algal blooms can produce toxins that pose health risks to people, pets, and aquatic life.

Because harmful algal blooms cannot be identified by appearance alone, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) advises the public to avoid water that appears bright green, blue, discolored, or scummy.

"When in doubt, stay out," NCDEQ officials advised in a recent press release.

NCDHHS advised the public to use caution during recreational water activities after Hurricane Helene.

NCDHHS is charged with issuing health and/or recreational advisories and has recommendations for recreational water safety online on its website.

The state monitoring data may, and has historically, varied from the Broad Riverkeeper MountainTrue Swim Guide reports and the town's published water sample reports, done through a third-party contractor. 

Scientists have told WCAB News that homeowners and taxpayers may want to do their own water quality sampling.

This is part of an ongoing WCAB News investigation into public health, public safety, water quality, and Hurricane Helene recovery in Lake Lure and western NC.

Note: The EPA's current recreational criteria use both long-term geometric mean values and short-term statistical thresholds. A single sample of 114 MPN/100 mL is below the commonly cited 126 benchmark, but NCDEQ does not issue a formal "pass/fail" determination for individual samples.