For Immediate Release
October 15, 2015
NO-SWIMMING ADVISORY ISSUED FOR PORTION OF
WITHER’S COVE ON LAKE WYLIE FOLLOWING
DISCHARGE OF SEWAGE
Charlotte, NC – A NO-SWIMMING advisory was issued today for a portion of Wither’s Cove on Lake
Wylie in Mecklenburg County, south of Shopton Road West. Buoys have been deployed in the affected
area and water quality samples have been collected and sent for lab testing.
The No-Swimming advisory was issued after approximately 3,750 gallons of sewage was discharged into
Neal Branch which ran into Wither’s Cove on October 15, 2015. The discharge was due to a blockage in
a Charlotte Water sewer line near Means Court in Charlotte, NC.
Water samples were collected in the cove Thursday by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services
staff. Initial lab results will take at least 24 hours to process. Sampling will continue until levels of fecal
coliform bacteria are below 200-colonies/100 ml, which is the level determined to be safe for swimming.
When sampling tests confirm acceptable bacterial levels, the advisory will be lifted.
The advisory is standard procedure when there is a potential risk to human health since Lake Wylie is a
designated recreational water. David Caldwell, Environmental Supervisor for Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Storm Water Services, said the advisory "was necessary to close the areas to swimming because of the
potential risk to human health.”
Media Contact: Mark Boone Office: 704-336-3735
Mark.Boone@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
(see map on following page)
Swim Advisory Area