E. coli testing
Each year, APELL volunteers take samples from several sites in Lac Long and Lac Morissette to test for the presence of E. coli bacteria.
Why test for E. coli?
High levels of E.coli bacteria (>200 bacteria/100ml) in water indicate water contamination that could be unsafe for swimming and other recreational uses. Any amount of E.coli in water makes it unsafe to drink.
How do E. coli enter the lake?
E. coli bacteria can come from animal or human feces, including septic tank leaks.
Why measure transparency?
Water transparency, measured using a Secchi disk, is a parameter used to assess the eutrophication state of the lake.
Water transparency
Every year, APELL volunteers measure the transparency of the water in several locations at Lac Long and Morissette.