Water Testing - 2008

During the summer of 2008, Les Cheneaux Watershed Project staff took water samples from ten sites in the Les Cheneaux watershed to test for levels of coliform and E-coli bacteria.  Each week, three samples were taken from each site.  The samples were delivered to Lake Superior State University's "Environmental Analysis Laboratory" for testing. 

Total coliform bacteria are organisms commonly found in the environment (e.g. soil or vegetation) and in the feces of all warm-blooded animals and humans.  The total coliform group is a large collection of different kinds of bacteria that are generally harmless and will not likely cause illness.  However, their presence in water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) could be in the water. 

Most pathogens that can contaminate water supplies come from the feces of humans or animals.  Fecal coliforms are types of total coliform that mostly exist in feces.  E. coli is a sub-group of fecal coliform.  Any E. coli found in drinking water is cause for concern.  Ideally, this number would be zero.  The water quality standard for swimming, however, requires that test samples must be below 300 E. coli per 100 milliliter sample. 

The water testing project was funded through a grant from the Les Cheneaux Community Foundation.  The tests were used to monitor areas where there were concentrations of lakeshore homes with septic systems and areas of higher use by swimmers; i.e. Hessel Beach.

The 2008 test results provide a measure of total coliform bacteria and E. Coli.  The test results are in CFU’s (colony forming units per 100 ml sample). 

The test results from all of the sites proved to be well within acceptable limits for full and partial body contact.