Field Notes

May 20, 2020

In lake water, COVID-19 is unlikely to be found in high concentrations

EDITOR’S NOTE: As lake season approaches, the presence of coronavirus in lake water is at the forefront of many minds. In order to give you the information you need to make the best decisions for your family, our researchers will review and reccommend SARS-CoV-2 studies as they are released.


This study is a review of several previous studies on previous strains of coronavirus, including six studies focused on the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). The paper suggests that it’s unlikely for COVID-19 to be found in water environments in concentrations great enough to make residents and visitors sick, even if the virus is able to cause illness. The current, overarching concern is primarily related to the social aspect of beaches and lake recreation. Social distancing should be practiced whenever possible, according to national and state guidelines.