" Thanks for the heads-up DEQ! I'll be searching for alternative sources for my drinking water. Does anyone have any ideas? "

" Hey everyone, Cabelas is having a sale on canoes, sailboats, filet knives, masks and snorkels, and swimsuits. Let's go. Nebraska, The Good Life.
Notice how NOBODY from the DEQ is suggesting any remedy to this situation? Why? Because they have no authority to stop anyone from polluting anything. They cannot arrest people, issue fines, or close people down. "

" Who drinks lake water???? "

" As the parent of a special needs child who loves to swim and jetski at the lake, this is extremely important information to know! We cannot trust him 100% to not drink any water, so we will NOT be able to go in the lake.

I appreciate you reporting this informtion! "

" "the Department of Environmental Quality say it is fine to have full body contact with water that has high levels of e.Coli and allow pets to drink the water."
Huh? Don't drink it but it's okay to allow it to seep through your pores, enter your eyes, and poison your dog. "

" Dogs drink lake water. "

" Little kids (and grown ups) can ingest lake water while swimming. I know I'll be bringing drinking water for my dog next time at the park just to be on the safe side. Thanks for the heads up DEQ. "

" I spent several hours in the water at Branched Oak two weekends ago... All the water that got up my nose gave me a sinus infection that you would not believe! That water is just down right nasty... "

" Don't people by accident swallow some water? i mean if it gets in my mouth i spit it out but there are still reminents of it, isn't that what they mean. isn't a tiny bit enough to hurt you? "

" Everyone's body has e. Coli already in it. The chances of it multiplying to the point where you get physically ill is relatively small. Sure, you don't want to go around drinking the lake water, but it's not going to instantly infect you. The DEQ is simply giving people a head's up because it's their job. I'd only worry if you have a depressed immune system for whatever reason. "

" Lake water is just sick and gross no matter how you look at it. Gives me the heebie jeebies. Especially around here. I love my dog too much to let him drink lake water. YUCK! "

" whatever...there's no man made environmental pollution. swim on. swim on. "

" Some people just don't get sarcazim. "officials are warning people to be careful not to drink the water." "

" It might be good if people didn't put there own fecal matter in the water too. "

" We were at Branched Oak last weekend. There's goose crap all over south shore beach. You can't walk without stepping in a land mine. I would imagine the rest of the shoreline is just as filthy. It would be nice if more was included in the article about how much water would get a person or small child sick. We swam in it and some got in our mouths. We spit it out, but is that enough or do I have to sit down with a 32oz mug full to get sick. "

" I just spoke with our pediatricians office regarding this as my son and friends were at Branched Oak yesterday tubing and swimming. All you need is to get it in your mouth, even if you spit it out you have ingested it and are at risk. The incubation period is 1-5 days, fever,cramps & diarrhea are the start. It will be worse before better. Should contact a dr immediately. There is no treatment just drink lots of water to flush out your system. You are highly contagious. Just an FYI for anyone that has been to any of these lakes. "

" why doesn't this report surprise me? With the drainage of fertilizers and nitrates draining into the water what else should you expect. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to find out that septic and small town sewage is helping with the algae. You have to clean up the land around the lakes to make them clean. It ain't just picking up plastic around the water. You need a good nrd looking for problems. "

" I'm glad i swam holmes lake in the nebraksa state games triathlon. thanks! "

" Is Salt creek still OK to Drink out of? "

" if you do any kind of recreational activity on these lakes you swallow water. it's now about filling your water bottle up with water and chugging it down.

and by the way this is caused by pesticide run off, something no one seems to likes to tell anyone. "

" e coli is bacteria right? How can that be caused by pesticide? I think the deer and the antelope playing in our waterways are more the cause of this, probably human excrement too. You can't drink the water in the Alaska bush without treating it some way because of bacterial infections ( they call it beaver fever there). And yes it's caused by animals doing their business in the wilderness. "

" Its this way every year, all lakes have high levels of one thing or another you just dont hear about it as often. I will keep going out......means it will be less busy - nice! "

" Escherichia coli is a species of bacteria. There are many different strains within this species. We all have 1 or more strains already in our bodies, referred to as "normal flora" by laboratorians. The strains which are problematic and make us sick do so by producing toxins which our bodies react to in a negative way. The strains which make the toxins are normal flora in animals, particularly cattle. You get sick because the cow poop E. coli got into your lake (or your meat, spinach, tomato, pepper or whatever) and you swallowed it. Unfortunately, the DEQ does not differentiate between the ok kind of E. coli and the icky kind. They just figure that if there's a lot, some of it is likely to be the kind that makes you sick. Actually you could get sick if there's just a little, if it's the wrong kind. Bacteria are out there, most of them are harmless or even good for you, some aren't and a little common sense will tell you that if you drink, swallow, or lick your fingers after touching it you are taking a risk that most of us would refer to as ordinary life. You shouldn't need some government agency to "warn" you if you can drink lake water or not. Just so you know. "