E. coli levels remain high in Cornwallis River

Counts taken at 11 test sites along the Cornwallis River in Kings County last year showed E. coli levels, at all but one location, to be beyond what is acceptable for recreational use.

Eight of the test sites were at or above the acceptable level for crop irrigation.

The testing was carried out by the Jijuktu’kwejk Watershed Alliance, a volunteer group of citizens and communities from Berwick to Wolfville that want to work toward a safe and clean river.

Jennifer West, the executive director of the group, said samples were taken at the end of summer and into December.

“Unfortunately, they all show E. coli levels that are above guidelines,” West said.

In Kentville, the levels last summer reached 1,200 units per 100 millilitres of water.

The acceptable level for recreational use, such as swimming, is 200 units, and the level for irrigation of crops is 100 units.

The levels were highest at the Kentville site. The only site below 100 units was at the Shaw Road bridge near Berwick.

The river runs from the western end of Kings County to the Minas Basin at Port Williams. Along the way it goes through farms, towns, part of the military training camp at Aldershot, a bird sanctuary, and past sewage treatment facilities.

West said the next step for the group is to find out what might be causing the continued high levels.