Loon Lake's Water

While the lake water is tested a few times per year by others for e-Coli, I test the water once per month for various characteristics. Some of my results go to the Ministry of the Environment (MOEE) as part of their Lake Partner Program and I retain the remaining data.

What follows are my results from July 2016:

* Secchi depth                  4.5 m
* Total Dissolved Solids      55 ppm
* General Hardness             0 ppm
* Calcium Hardness             0 ppm
* pH                                7.5
* Ammonia                         0 ppm
* Orthophosphate               5 ppm
* Total Alkalinity                80 ppm
* Chlorine                           0 ppm
* Bromine                           0 ppm

These results along with other more detailed information gathered by the MOEE, indicate that our lake water is very good.

Unfortunately, our lake is now contaminated by an invasive species, the Spiny Water Flea, and there really is not too much that can be done about that problem. On a more positive side, the Spiny Water Flea is a favourite meal of our resident lake trout.

This week, I will again be taking water samples for Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program and submitting them for analysis.

I am currently waiting for equipment from the MOEE office in Dorset that will enable me to do a dissolved oxygen sampling and profile on the lake this summer. 

Watch for my article about dissolved oxygen in the near future.