YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The most recent sampling of water taken from Mill Creek MetroPark waterways all exhibited bacteria levels above acceptable levels.

The Mahoning County District Board of Health says that E. coli levels at nine testing sites ranged from 600 to more than than 2420 colony forming units per 100 milliliters of water.

E. coli levels of 576 cfu/100 ml is considered unsafe for recreational use.

Recreational activities at all three lakes in the MetroParks have been suspended since early July following the appearance of many dead fish in the park waterways.

Water tested at the Lake Newport Boathouse and Old Calla Road snear the Mill Creek Wildlife Sanctuary had bacteria levels more that four times acceptable limits.

All samples from the previous week also exhibited bacteria levels above acceptable levels.

Weekly testing of Lake Newport and the streams that flow into it is scheduled to conclude next week.

The data will be analyzed in an attempt to pinpoint the cause or causes of the higher than acceptable E. coli levels.