Nov. 1--Missouri environmental regulators Saturday warned people to avoid Weatherby Lake after testing found high levels of E. coli three days after a 1,000-gallon sewage spill.

Crews from the state Department of Natural Resources examined five samples from the lake. They found that in two cases, E. coli levels were more than 10 times the recommended maximum for swimming. The two samples showed levels exceeding 2,400 colonies per 100 milliliters of water. The federal standard is 235 colonies per 100 milliliters for a single sample. The three other sample results were well below the standard.

The analysis used cannot quantify the level of E. coli beyond 2,400 colonies, so the actual levels may exceed that number, the state agency said Saturday evening.

The spill occurred Wednesday at a Kansas City wastewater lift station near 8316 N.W. Forest Drive in Platte County, state officials said.

The Kansas City Water Services Department on Thursday notified the DNR of the spill. A power failure shut off the pumps at the lift station, causing sewage to run into Weatherby Lake, the Water Services Department reported.

The Water Services Department did not contact the city of Weatherby Lake until Friday afternoon.

The state Thursday took samples from the lake to determine whether water quality had been affected. However, Thursday's rains probably contributed to even more bacteria in the lake, making it difficult to know the true effect of the spill, according to the state.

To reach Brad Cooper, call 816-234-7724 or send e-mail to bcooper@kcstar.com.

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