Surface water staff from the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District (BCRAGD) collected water samples July 23 from sites along the Medina River, Medina Lake, Sabinal River and their tributaries to monitor E. coli bacteria levels and water temperature. Samples were analyzed at the BCRAGD lab, which is not a certified laboratory. Results are for informational purposes only. E. coli is a bacteria found in the gut of warm-blooded animals and can cause illness in humans if ingested. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sets the safety threshold for primary contact recreation at 399 most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliters of water. Counts above this limit mean people should avoid activities involving full head submersion, such as swimming. The July 23 results showed one location exceeding the TCEQ limit: West Prong at Coalkiln Road measured 727 MPN. Other locations ranged from 3 MPN at Medina Lake near Pop’s Place to 291 MPN at Bandera City Park at State Highway 173. Three Medina Lake sites, Park at PR 37, Haby’s Cove and Red Cove, were inaccessible for sampling. BCRAGD advises that there is always a risk of infection from E. coli or other waterborne illnesses. River water should never be consumed without proper disinfection, and swimming is always at one’s own risk. An interactive map with sampling locations, E. coli counts, water levels and photos is available at www.bcragd.org/ water-quality-testing.
For more information, call 830-796-7260.
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