A popular lake is suspending all water-based activities due to a sewage leak.Great Parks announced Friday that all water-based recreational activities at Winton Lake, including paddleboarding, fishing, kayaking and canoeing, are suspended after an active sewage leak was observed in the area near Winton Woods Harbor. See WLWT morning headlines in the video player aboveAfter consulting with the Hamilton County Public Health and the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, Great Parks made the decision to suspend water-based activities to “protect employees, volunteers, guests and neighbors.”Great Parks has also notified the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, which it says is standard practice. It comes after a routine test of bacteria levels in the lake revealed one of the two testing sites at Winton Lake was found to have elevated E. coli bacteria levels. Signs were initially posted around the lake encouraging guests to wash hands and to not swallow lake water, and handwashing stations were also posted near the lake’s edge.Upon closer inspection, Great Parks found the sewage leak, prompting the immediate suspension of water-based recreational activities at Winton Lake. Fishing and water-based recreation were immediately suspended at the Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo. The rest of Winton Woods Park is open, including ziplining, rock climbing, golf instruction, archery and other interactive activities, plus Saturday’s 5K, 10K and Kids Adventure Dash.Swimming is prohibited at Winton Lake, in accordance with Great Parks bylaws.It’s unclear when the lake could reopen to water-based activities, Great Parks says it’s actively working to flush and repair the damaged pipe.

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio —

A popular lake is suspending all water-based activities due to a sewage leak.

Great Parks announced Friday that all water-based recreational activities at Winton Lake, including paddleboarding, fishing, kayaking and canoeing, are suspended after an active sewage leak was observed in the area near Winton Woods Harbor.

See WLWT morning headlines in the video player above

After consulting with the Hamilton County Public Health and the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, Great Parks made the decision to suspend water-based activities to “protect employees, volunteers, guests and neighbors.”

Great Parks has also notified the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, which it says is standard practice.

It comes after a routine test of bacteria levels in the lake revealed one of the two testing sites at Winton Lake was found to have elevated E. coli bacteria levels. Signs were initially posted around the lake encouraging guests to wash hands and to not swallow lake water, and handwashing stations were also posted near the lake’s edge.

Upon closer inspection, Great Parks found the sewage leak, prompting the immediate suspension of water-based recreational activities at Winton Lake.

Fishing and water-based recreation were immediately suspended at the Kids Outdoor Adventure Expo.

The rest of Winton Woods Park is open, including ziplining, rock climbing, golf instruction, archery and other interactive activities, plus Saturday’s 5K, 10K and Kids Adventure Dash.

Swimming is prohibited at Winton Lake, in accordance with Great Parks bylaws.

It’s unclear when the lake could reopen to water-based activities, Great Parks says it’s actively working to flush and repair the damaged pipe.