KDHE Home - News 2000 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
KDHE Lifts Public Health Advisory for Parts of Mill Creek
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has lifted the public health advisory for Mill Creek in Johnson County. The advisory had been issued August 28th following the release of 180,000 gallons of untreated wastewater from the Van Mar Sewage Lift Station due to an electrical short in a breaker box caused by the heat. Effected reaches of Mill Creek extended from Harold Street in the City of Olathe north to the creek's confluence with the Kansas River.
Water samples collected and analyzed this week by KDHE and the City of Olathe indicate that swimming, wading, fishing and other recreational activities should pose no greater risk now than before the sewage bypass.
The department advises that people take normal health precautions when engaging in recreation on any body of water. People should avoid swallowing lake or river water; avoid water contact with open cuts and sores; and wash thoroughly with soap and warm tap water following recreational activities. These recommendations are necessary because the concentration of bacteria and other microorganisms in any body of water can vary and may increase substantially following rain.
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