News & Updates All »
FALL HYDRANT FLUSHING PROGRAM
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Click here to view the interactive map (image above is a screenshot). Goshen Utilities will start the fall hydrant flushing program beginning Monday October 11th, 2021, through Friday October 15th, weather permitting. From Monday, October 11 through Friday October 15, we will be flushing during... more
2021 TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS
Thursday, October 7, 2021
The City of Goshen's trick-or-treat hours are Saturday, October 30, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Trick-or-treaters: Please be respectful of the set trick-or-treat hours. Stop only at homes where the porch lights are on, and never go into a stranger's home. Treat givers and adults: If you... more
City to host Electric Vehicle Expo
Thursday, September 23, 2021
The following is a message from the Michiana Area Council of Governments, in collaboration with South Shore Clean Cities, Inc. and the City of Goshen: The City of Goshen’s Department of Environmental Resilience is teaming up with the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) and South Shore... more
Upcoming Events All »
Traffic Commission
Thursday, October 21, 2021, 4:30pm
To view a live stream of this meeting, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81502949151?pwd=Z01FZlFNL0s3RW9qdllMWExyTmhDQT09 and password 905569 or call (312) 626-6799 or (929) 205-6099 and dial the meeting ID: 815 0294 9151. To speak during the public meeting, the public should use the “raise hand” feature on meeting or dial *9 if calling on the telephone.
Board of Works & Safety & Stormwater Board
Monday, October 25, 2021, 2:00pm
To join the webinar, please copy and paste this link on your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81896230103 Or call: (301) 715-8592 or 312 626 6799 Webinar ID: 818 9623 0103 Dial *9 to "raise hand" and speak during public comment
Shade Tree Board
Monday, October 25, 2021, 7:00pm
Water Quality Data
Since 2008 Elkhart County and the City of Goshen have conducted research into the pollution levels of the waterways in Elkhart County. Water samples are taken on a regular basis from the Elkhart and St. Joseph Rivers, along with several local lakes and a selection of streams and canals which flow into one or both rivers. A full list of sampling sites can be found here.
Understanding Water Quality Indicators
Samples are analyzed for various indicators of water quality, including E. coli content, suspended sediment, chemicals from fertilizer runoff, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature. Unnatural levels of suspended sediment, industrial chemicals, dissolved oxygen, temperatures, and pH can directly affect the ability of fish and other aquatic life to breathe, feed, and reproduce. Excess fertilizers specifically can cause harmful algal blooms, which you can read more about here. E. coli is a bacterium which can cause abdominal infections when ingested and usually enters waterways in stormwater containing fecal matter. While it does not generally hurt aquatic life, the presence of too much E. coli can make a body of water unsafe for human contact due to the risk of infection from even a small dose.
Sites are sampled at least 3 years in a row to identify trends in these water quality indicators. These trends are useful to identify high risk bodies of water with elevated levels of a pollutant or unnatural and unhealthy levels of dissolved oxygen, pH, or temperature. Once identified, these waterways can be prioritized for needed intervention. Monitoring trends also allows us to document the success or failure of programs to improve water quality and can suggest a shift in strategy if results are not seen.
Our Water
Many waterways in Elkhart County contain elevated levels of E. coli. The Elkhart River regularly tests above safe levels and most of its tributaries contain even higher levels, with the exception of Christiana Creek. For this reason, it is not recommended to swim in the Elkhart River or its tributaries after a heavy rainfall, when E. coli levels are highest. Outside of these times, showering after swimming is recommended to wash off potential residual contaminants. Heaton Lake and Simonton Lake also contain somewhat elevated levels of E. coli but are usually within safe limits and are regularly used for recreation.
Exact levels of E. coli in each waterway naturally vary from day to day and year to year, depending on rainfall and other factors. However, there has been no sustained decrease in E. coli levels since sampling began.
Raw data is provided for each year along with graphs and reports when available. Note: most of the data and graphs are also provided in an appendix of that year's report.