CARYVILLE — The Walton County Health Department has issued an advisory for the third time this year urging swimmers to stay out of Morrison Springs.
The advisory was issued after high counts of E. coli, or feces from warm-blooded animals, were measured in the water May 31.
“Normally, this is caused from runoff water when we have heavy rain,” said Crystal Steele, the Health Department’s environmental manager. “Anytime you swim in a natural body of water you run this risk. For May, we’re not really sure why the numbers were so high.”
Morrison Springs is a popular county-run diving spot and park. Three cavities allow cold water to surface from an underground aquifer. The deepest of these cavities, at about 300 feet, ends in an underground chamber of unknown dimensions.
The springs and the 161-acre park are a popular place for tourists.
The latest advisory applies only to swimming. The park remains open.
Steele said officials sample local waters once a month. They now will sample Morrison Springs every Monday and Wednesday until the water is clean enough to swim.
Results from Monday’s test will be available Tuesday, Steele said. She could not predict when the advisory will be lifted.
Morrison Springs was closed for a month in mid-February and March and was closed again for most of April.
Steele said those who swim in water with high E. coli risk infections, rashes, stomach viruses and ear and eye ailments.
“They may not have anything happen to them, but there’s a risk,” she said.