The City of Fairfield has issued a swimming advisory for the beach at Waterworks Park — also known as Bonnifield Lake — after routine water quality testing found E. coli levels above the State of Iowa’s recommended threshold for swimming, according to a press release from City Engineer and Public Works Director Melanie Carlson.
Swimming is not recommended while the advisory remains in effect. The city conducts weekly water quality testing at Waterworks Park Beach and reports results to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which monitors beaches for elevated E. coli bacteria and microcystin levels from Memorial Day through Labor Day to help reduce the risk of waterborne illness.
A follow-up water sample will be collected on Monday, June 15th. The advisory will remain in place until testing confirms water quality has returned to acceptable levels.
Current test results for Waterworks Park Beach and other monitored recreation beaches across Iowa can be viewed at programs.iowadnr.gov/aquia/beaches. Additional information about Iowa’s beach monitoring program and advisory standards is available through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
