Genesee County Health Department
Better Life Through Better Health

Date:                    September 8, 2011

Release Date:       For Immediate Release      End Date: September 12, 2011  

Contact Person:    Brian McKenzie, R.S.
                           Environmental Health Supervisor
                           Genesee County Health Department

 

Phone:                 (810) 257-3603        

RE:                      E. Coli Bacteria Results For Genesee County Lakes

    

All monitored points in Genesee County are currently in compliance with State guidelines for bacterial concentrations at bathing beaches. Water testing is available for all Genesee County public beach operators, please contact us for more information.

     Exposure to any recreational water can be a potential health risk.  Gastrointestinal and dermatological illnesses have been associated with recreational water exposure. Rain and subsequent runoff can dramatically increase E. coli bacteria levels in lakes and other surface waters. Therefore, the Genesee County Health Department is advising that all beach patrons exercise due caution with total body contact in area surface waters after rain events.

    Your Genesee County Health Department utilizes the following rules to interpret the E. coli test results. (By authority conferred on the director of public health by section 12544 of Act No. 368 of the Public Acts of 1978, as amended, being §333.12544 of the Michigan Compiled Laws):

 

R 325.2102 Sanitation and safety determinations.  Rule 2. (1) Bacterial concentrations in water at a bathing beach, as determined by standard methods, shall contain not more than 130 Escherichia coli (E. coli) per 100 milliliters, as a 30-day geometric mean. Compliance shall be based on the geometric mean of all individual samples taken during 5 or more sampling events representatively spread over a 30-day period. Each sampling event shall consist of 3 or more samples taken at representative locations within a designated sampling area. Bathing beach waters shall not contain more than a maximum of 300 E. coli per 100 milliliters. Compliance shall be based on the geometric mean of 3 or more samples taken during the same sampling event at representative locations within a defined sampling area.    

2011 Bacterial Concentrations of Escherichia coli per 100 milliliters

         

LOCATIONS:

*Wk of 5/16

*Wk of 5/23

*Wk of 5/30

*Wk of 6/6

*Wk of 6/13

*Wk of 6/20

*Wk of 6/27

*Wk of 7/4

*Wk of 7/11

*Wk of 7/18

*Wk of 7/25

*Wk of 8/1

*Wk of 8/8

*Wk of 8/15

*Wk of 8/22

*Wk of 8/29

*Wk of 9/5

**30 Day Mean 

Byram Lake Clover Beach

 81 3 2 6 7 9 20 117 39 131 197 *518 *>500 83 29 18 12 57

Holloway Buttercup Beach

 95 17 20 2 3 16 12 49 257 216 124 35 42 27 18 10 closed 21

Mott Lake  Bluebell Beach

 201 7 268 6 56 5 33 61 46 77 85 24 22 34 52 88 123 53

Myers Lake

 17 9 5 3 3 4 1 7 4 5 1 6 3 3 2 3 3 3
 

 * Not to Exceed State guideline of 300 E. coli per 100 ml per sampling event

** Not to Exceed State guideline of 130 E. coli per 100 ml as a 30 day geometric mean