Will Poole Park lake flush stop the stink? (From Bournemouth Echo)

Will Poole Park lake flush stop the stink?

11:00am Wednesday 28th July 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(9)

SMELLY Poole Park lake has been emptied out again as the council steps up lake flushings in a bid to tackle the nasty niff.

The pungent odour, likened to open sewers by some, is caused by rotting weeds.

It has been irritating noses in the area for over a month – prompting fears among local businesses that it could keep visitors away.

But yesterday, after the lake was flushed out overnight, the smell had gone – temporarily at least.

The 40-acre salt-water lake turned green in June after the warm weather brought about an explosion of tassleweed below the water and blanket weed on top.

Unable to treat it with chemicals due to environmental legislation, Borough of Poole added blue vegetable dye to the water at the end of June to reduce the sunlight reaching the weeds.

But as they rot they are creating the unwelcome smell.

The council has ruled out mechanical removal on the grounds of cost and impracticality due to the vast quantity of weeds, leaving flushing out the lake more frequently the only option.

It involves lowering the sluice gate and allowing the lake to refill with the tide, increasing salt levels and lowering the temperature, which restricts weed growth.

The blue dye is also being regularly topped up.

The lake was last flushed out on Monday evening.

The council is also planning further winter work, which could include a full drain post-Christmas, the removal of silt to clear the drainage channels and upgrading the sluice gate in a bid to cut the chance of the weeds returning.

Cllr Peter Adams, cabinet portfolio holder for Leisure, Borough of Poole, said: “I would like to assure residents, visitors and businesses that we are doing all we can to resolve this as soon as possible, both in the short and longer-term.”

He reiterated that the lake remains safe to use.

Water quality tests are being carried out regularly. The lake is currently flushed approximately six times a year.

As of last night, the smell had been improved but not banished.