Officials warn of swimming in Nebraska, Iowa lakes due to E. coli

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (WOWT) - 15 beaches in Iowa and 10 in Nebraska have elevated E. coli levels. Officials are warning against swimming in them.

A Council Bluffs mother, Raelee Thompson, arrived to Lake Manawa with her family on Sunday afternoon.

“It was either the lake or the pool, and we came here. As we walked in, they did let us know there is some E. coli in the water,” Thompson said.

The family searched online for how to make the most of the day on the water.

“We really wanted to have fun and honestly we love to come here. It’s a great time. It’s very family welcoming,” Thompson said.

According to weekly testing by the Iowa DNR, Lake Manawa and 14 other beaches across the state have E. coli levels where swimming is not recommended. 10 lakes in Nebraska have high E. coli levels.

“You kind of have to weigh what’s worth it and what’s not,” Thompson said.

People are still taking a refreshing dip, but with some precautions.

“We did make sure the girls only went to waist deep, to make sure they did not get it in their mouths, and we’re rinsing off really well before we go home,” Thompson said. “We are going to shower really thoroughly, but we are going to watch for some symptoms.”

The Iowa DNR reports that potential illnesses associated with swimming in high levels of E. coli include increased risk to children, elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, diarrheal diseases, as well as skin, ear, and respiratory infections.

“We didn’t submerge from the chin up, but from the shoulder down. We just didn’t drink that water. They said ‘make sure you don’t drink the water,’” Kim Nocita, who was at the lake, said.

The DNR recommends avoiding swimming in water when E. coli levels are high and to not swallow the water.

“Just play it safe, do what they tell you to do, and you’ll still have a good time,” Nocita said.

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