Arness reopens to swimming

Published 4:00 pm Saturday, September 2, 2006

KINGSTON — Kingston’s waterfront Arness County Park was closed to swimmers for just under a week due to an elevated number of bacteria in the water, most likely caused by fecal matter.

The popular hangout was shut down Aug. 25 and reopened Wednesday afternoon, just before the last few days of summer washed away for 2006.

The Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication and Health Program, a state program that Kitsap County utilizes, specified higher than normal levels of enterococci — which is believed to provide a higher connection than fecal coliform with many human pathogens often found in sewage — led to the closure.

“(BEACH) specifies the amount of bacteria that is safe and unsafe,” said Kitsap County Health Department Environmental Health Specialist Shawn Ultican. “We’ve been monitoring swimming water in Kitsap County. The higher levels of bacteria mean there is a higher risk of people getting sick. It does not tell us what causes it. It could be something from the gut track of any warm-blooded animal.”

Kitsap County has been using the BEACH program since fall 2003, Ultican said. Under it, county specialists visit 10 different beaches throughout Kitsap County once a week and test the water.

Since the program began, Arness Park has been closed for one day in October 2003 due to a high bacteria count.

“I think this park is gross,” said Kitsap County Facilities, Parks and Recreation employee Taylor Jones. “I’ve never seen anyone swimming out here. It’s no wonder, there’s so much pond scum stuff around in the slough. It just doesn’t look appealing.”

Despite the slough’s appearance, Arness Park is a popular spot for North End teens and kids to hang out at and play in the water, said Indianola resident Laura Warner.

“There’s always a lot of kids here swimming on warm days,” she said. “Kids accumulate on this spot.”

Ultican stressed that the water is perfectly safe for swimmers now. For whatever reason, the bacteria levels have dropped into the safety zone, and as a result KCHD officials decided it was OK to remove the warning signs and let people back into the water.

“There are few different reasons why the bacteria went away,” Ultican said. “It could have been the tidal exchange, or a die off of bacteria. Once the bacteria is exposed to salt water and sunlight, it dies fairly quickly. The source of contamination could also have been temporary, and is not there this week.”

“I’m not comfortable with the water quality here,” said Kingston resident Patrick Green, adding that he and his 7-year-old son, Ben, tend to visit a beach closer to their house. “It’s always stinky, which doesn’t say much for the water quality. I know a lot of kids swim down here all summer long though, and they’re OK afterwards.”

The bacteria causes flu-like symptoms, Ultican said, but it is not life threatening.

“There’s always bacteria and viruses in our environment,” he said. “We’re just letting people know when the risk of getting sick is increased.”