No swimming advisory issued for Oval Beach
SAUGATUCK, Mich. (WOOD) — The Allegan County Health Department advises people looking to beat the heat along the lakeshore to avoid Oval Beach.
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Routine testing shows high levels of E. coli at Oval Beach, causing the ACHD to issue a no swimming advisory on Monday.
“ACHD advises against swimming/total body contact with the water at this time and has posted an advisory sign at the beach,” the department posted on social media. “ACHD will be taking additional samples and will provide an update when the advisory is lifted.”
The Michigan Public Health Code set the water quality standard for E. Coli at 300 bacteria per 100 milliliters on any daily reading and 130 bacteria per 100 ml over a 30-day average. The three tests done earlier this year all came in well below 130. The test on June 12 registered an average of 12.1. The test completed on June 17 was approximately 2,400.
The advisory says the high bacteria levels were caused by nearby runoff. Oval Beach was last closed in July 2021 for a similar issue related to stormwater runoff.
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The health department listed several ways to try to limit the possibility of contracting an illness from the water. ACHD recommends using the restroom before swimming and avoiding water that “smells foul, looks murky or immediately after a heavy rain.” The agency also encourages people not to swallow lake water and to wash their hands before eating.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most kinds of E. coli are harmless, but some can make you sick. Infections caused by those bacteria can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and even sepsis.
You can learn more about E. coli through the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy website. You can check for water advisories on EGLE’s BeachGuard website.
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