By The St. Clair County Health Department
The St. Clair County Health Department (SCCHD) has issued five swimming advisories for beaches in St Clair County: Keewadhin, Lakeside, Holland Road, Lighthouse, Marine City beaches. The advisories are related to the heavy storms the area received on August 15, which resulted in impaired water quality. Water samples will be collected at five beaches until E. coli test results are within the acceptable water quality range as dictated by the State of Michigan. The SCCHD Environmental Health Division conducts water quality monitoring at eight public beaches in St. Clair County for the presence of E. coli bacteria from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Water sample results must be below 300 E. coli per 100 milliliters for the water to be considered safe for swimming. 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 go-ers should be aware elevated E. coli levels are possible after a storm or strong winds because bacteria are carried in storm runoff, drained from creeks and ditches, and stirred up from waves. When there has been heavy rainfall or strong winds, individuals should be advised not to swim that day.
Advisories for St. Clair County’s public beaches are shared on the SCCHD’s “St. Clair County Beaches” Facebook page and Michigan BeachGuard website at www.egle.state.mi.us/beach/.
For more information, visit www.scchealth.co or contact the SCCHD Environmental Health Division at (810) 987-5306. Follow us on social media @scchdmi.