Boaters, swimmers, hikers and their pets should avoid two areas of Lake Norman this weekend due to a raw sewage spill and the spread of a toxic weed that killed at least four dogs in N.C. and Georgia lakes last year.
About 200 gallons of untreated sewage may have spilled into the lake in the 2300 block of Smith Harbour Drive in Denver, Lincoln County Health Director Lena Jones said in a water advisory alert at 5 p.m. Friday.
That’s off N.C. 16 on the western shores of the lake.
A sewage lift station failed, sending the sewage into the water, Jones said.
The area may be contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria , she said.
“Residents and lake users are advised not to swim or otherwise have bodily contact in that area,” Jones said.
No-swimming signs were scheduled to be posted in the area, and a public notification message was sent to nearby properties, she said.
Workers at a county treatment plant that serves the area are taking water samples and will notify the county Public Works Department when it’s safe to swim and boat again, Jones said.