How can ponds be dangerous

To receive pediatric news and stories right to your inbox, sign up below. Family uses tragedy to get word out on water-born amoebas. Most cases occurred in young males, years of age, with a history of recent exposure to freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers during the warm summer months. Related to this topic: www. Comments 1 - 2 2. Thank you for your message. It will be posted after approval. Thanks for article.

I won't even dip my toe in the lakes and rivers around here. People here are ignorant of stagnant water. They are so ignorant, they take the plunge right into the water. Maybe they will one day read this article and think, again. It would be helpful if the state's would post a warning sign by lakes that is permanent so this wouldn't be forgotten especially if not going above the neck in water is an easy solution.

I wouldn't trust nose plugs. Besides, I would imagine they could do something harmful if they got in the mouth too even if it is just making someone sick. Is my pond or lake safe for swimming? Livingston County Health Department E. Grand River Ave. Page Content. Although bodies of water on private property are not subject to water quality monitoring requirements, Environmental Health recommends following the State of Michigan Bathing Beach Guidelines for determining if water is safe for swimming.

Any swimming area will have risks beyond the bacterial level, including depth, clarity, current and submerged hazards. The best way to determine if a body of water is safe and the risk of water borne illness is low is to sample the water and check for Escherichia coli E. Most strains of E. Since bacteria are living organisms, levels can change over time.

Keep in mind that a single sample will only give a snapshot of water quality at the time the sample was collected. Surface Water Sampling Procedures. The source of water in your pond directly affects the water quality. For example, spring water tends to be the purest source of water since it emerges directly from the ground. While ponds have many different sources, all are susceptible to contamination, animals, insects and algae growth.

These environmental factors can make swimming unsafe for a variety of reasons. There are many contaminates that would make it unsafe to swim in ponds. Human sewage or animal manure, for example, contain fecal coliform bacteria and e-coli that make water unsafe for swimming.

This type of contamination can be tested for with a lab test. In some areas of the country, there are various types of animals that can make swimming dangerous.

Snakes, snapping turtles, alligators and leeches are all animals that present danger for swimmers. It is best to avoid swimming in ponds that have been known to contain these types of animals. Swimmers itch is a skin rash that develops from an allergic reaction to a microscopic parasite that burrows into your skin.

These parasites have a life cycle that transfers between a certain snail and then to waterfowl and other mammals that live around water. When the parasites are in the water looking for the next host, unfortunately, they sometimes find us instead.

Algae growth occurs in ponds that have excess nutrients. The excess nutrients feed microscopic planktonic algae cells.