CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Lake County General Health District to start reporting beach water quality

News-Herald - 6/1/2023

Jun. 1—Lake County General Health District has announced it will start reporting beach water quality at the two public beaches in Lake County — Mentor Headlands State Park Beach and Lake Metroparks Fairport Harbor Beach.

Every morning a member of staff will collect data and record observations. The data is then entered into a software program called Virtual Beach that uses a mathematical system developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to predict the levels of E. coli at the beach each day, according to a news release.

The model determines the probability of whether the current single day standard of 235 E. coli per 100 milliliters of sample will be exceeded that day. The models developed for each beach are site-specific and will be used daily to determine the probability of whether the water quality will exceed the standard, the release stated.

This daily prediction will be reported using the Ohio Department of Health BEACHGUARD and United States Geographical Services NOWCAST programs each morning to the beach operators. The Health District will still collect water quality samples three times per week for E. coli analysis to validate each predictive model for accuracy and reliability, according to the release.

If the prediction indicates that the water quality is expected to exceed the standard, beach operators will be notified and advised to post the advisory sign.

As always, the Health District recommends that the public look for the posted water quality signage at the beach when deciding whether to go into the water. Additionally, it is recommended that bathers avoid the water for 24-48 hours after heavy rain of more than one half inch in 24 hours, since the likelihood of poor water quality generally increases, the release stated.

Because of this, officials say people should always shower as soon as possible after swimming in the lake.

The Health District encourages beach goers to visit lcghd.org/beaches for more information on beach water quality and to visit the ODH BEACHGUARD and Nowcast sites.

For more information about LCGHD's beach monitoring and public swimming pools programs, contact the Environmental Health division at 440-350-2543.

___

(c)2023 The News-Herald (Willoughby, Ohio)

Visit The News-Herald (Willoughby, Ohio) at www.news-herald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.