A popular public beach on Lake Wylie has been closed indefinitely after routine testing detected elevated levels of E. coli bacteria (likely from a nearby sewage spill), prompting officials to warn swimmers to stay out of the water until further notice.
Gaston County Parks, Recreation & Tourism announced the immediate closure of the swimming beach at South Point Access Park, located near the end of South Point Road.
The closure follows a high E. coli reading discovered during routine weekly water testing conducted by Pace Labs. Elevated E. coli levels can indicate the presence of harmful bacteria and viruses that increase the risk of illness for swimmers.
Pace Labs collected another water sample on Thursday after the elevated reading was detected. Officials expect the new test results to be available Friday.
The beach will remain closed until water quality is determined to be safe.
