Genesee County Health Department
Better Life Through Better Health
Is the Lake Safe to Swim In?
Good water quality, along with proper design and maintenance, is
essential to your health and safety while swimming. The following points
are offered to help you evaluate your favorite beach area – and offer
some suggestions for maintaining and improving it.
Design criteria should include such things as:
Coarse sand or pea gravel are good bottom materials; a gentle bottom
slope of 1:10 is recommended; docks or rafts should have a minimum of 12
inches of air space under them; check for current, cold spots, boat
traffic, broken glass or other debris; and make sure convenient bathroom
facilities are located nearby.
Safety criteria should include such things as:
Attending a cardiopulmonary resuscitation class and knowing basic
lifesaving techniques; use the buddy system – never swim alone; know
where the nearest phone is to call for emergency assistance; never dive
in unknown water, to dive safely the water must be at least 8 or 10 feet
deep; keep basic safety equipment nearby – a ring buoy attached to 30
feet of rope, first aid kit, a long reaching pole.
Water quality criteria should include such things as:
Testing for E. Coli bacteria (which indicate the presence of animal
and human sewage) – a series of 5 sampling events over 30 days must
have a geometric average of less than 130 bacteria per 100 milliliters
of water to be acceptable; a test for detergents and chlorides may help
to determine if household sewage is reaching the lake; the water should
be clear enough to see a white object 6 inches in diameter placed four
feet beneath the surface; algae and weed growth must be kept to a
minimum.
No one can guarantee you the lake is safe to swim in, but following
the above points is a great place to start. Have a safe and healthy
swimming season!
For more information, contact the
Genesee County Health Department at (810) 257-3603
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