Following the discovery of a wastewater pump station failure on Monday morning, June 29, the Wittenburg Swim Beach in Bethlehem was closed as a precaution to protect public health.
Later that day, the City of Hickory announced that approximately 6,080 gallons of untreated wastewater had been discharged into Lake Hickory near the swim beach.
Alexander County collected water samples on Tuesday and received the test results on Wednesday morning, which showed slightly elevated bacteria levels. Additional water samples were collected on Wednesday, with results expected Thursday morning.
If bacteria levels fall within Duke Energy’s established safety guidelines, the county hopes to reopen the swim beach on Thursday, July 2.
The safety of our residents and visitors remains our top priority, and we appreciate the public’s patience as we continue to monitor water quality.
For the latest updates, follow the Wittenburg Swim Beach on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wittenburgswimbeach.