October 13, 2023

To address citizen concerns related to water quality, the City of Orlando's Streets and Stormwater Division has developed a Lake Alert public information system to provide seasonal and localized warnings for City of Orlando lakes. An announcement has been provided below regarding the lake(s) where water quality has been a concern.

• Type of water quality concern: Possible elevated E. coli counts.
• Location: Lake Ivanhoe, west of the boat ramp.

City Response:

On October 10, 2023 , Public Works staff became aware of drainage issues with groundwater discharging out of a dewatering hose. To be clear, this was not sewage, it was groundwater. The Public Works department immediately sent crews out to help the construction team and the contractor mitigate the issue. It appears that the preliminary cause of this issue may have been tampering within the site after work hours.

In an abundance of caution, the contractor will be conducting testing at the site. Additionally, the contractor has advised the City that it is exploring means to secure the site and help prevent a recurrence of vandalism.

Also as a precaution, the city is issuing a Lake Alert for Lake Ivanhoe due to elevated E. coli levels. While there is no evidence of sanitary leakage occurring from the sanitary bypass operation or from the pump removing groundwater from the City’s Orange Avenue construction project, the city is advising that water contact activities, including irrigation, associated with Lake Ivanhoe cease until further notice. Staff will continue to collect water samples to meet acceptable State Water Quality Standards. Once E. coli counts meet acceptable State Water Quality Standards, the city will remove the warning and share updates on our Lake Alert Hotline number (407.246.2220) and our Lake Alert website at orlando.gov/lakealert.

Please continue to check our website or call the Lake Alert Hotline for the most up-to-date information regarding your lake.

For water quality questions, please contact Lisa Lotti, Stormwater Compliance Program Manager, at lisa.lotti@orlando.gov.