The St. Clair County Health Department has issued a swimming advisory Thursday, June 25 for Holland Beach due to elevated levels of E. coli in the water.
Water samples will continue to be collected and tested. The advisory will be lifted once results return to an acceptable range as advised by the State of Michigan.
E. coli bacteria are a common microbe found in the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and can indicate the presence of fecal contamination.
Beach goers should be aware elevated E. coli levels are possible after a storm or strong winds because bacteria are carried in storm water runoff, including drainage from creeks and ditches, and stirred up from waves. Standing water such as the water found in small pools along the shoreline, can also have elevated levels of E. coli.
Contact with recreational water poses the risk of waterborne illnesses. The following actions can reduce the risk of waterborne illness:
Advisories for St. Clair County’s public beaches are shared on the SCCHD’s St. Clair County Beaches Facebook page and the MiEnviro Beachguard website.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Holland Beach under swimming advisory for E. coli
Reporting by Liz Shepard, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Liz Shepard, Port Huron Times Herald | USA TODAY Network
