A POPULAR section of Lake Burley Griffin dirtied by duck poo, storm water run-off and blue-green algae could reopen to swimmers as early as the end of this week.
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The area of water on the eastern edge of Weston Park, Yarralumla, was shut to swimmers, divers and windsurfers for the start of the summer period.
Two consecutive tests revealed unacceptable levels of bacteria in the water.
One of the main types of faeces found in the water was duck poo washed into the lake after the rain, according to a National Capital Authority spokeswoman. Large numbers of ducks are known to gather around the lake's edge.
The high-level alert for Weston Park East was based on a bacteria count of 280 colony forming units per 100ml of water. The authority's acceptable level was 200cfu/100ml.
The same area of water also had 113,400 cells of blue green algae within a millilitre of water.
The NCA spokeswoman said a water quality test tomorrow would find out if the waterway was clean again.
If found clean the public would be told by the end of the week. Until then, sailing, fishing, canoeing and boating could be done safely at Weston Park East.
There was also a medium blue green algae alert for the lake's West Basin.
''Swimming in receiving waters should be avoided for several days after heavy rainfall,'' the spokeswoman said.
