Its 90 degrees in the shade on a wonderful breeze free weekend day. You have the car packed with necessities for a terrific day at the beach. An hour and a half later, driving through bumper to bumper traffic, also lined up going to the beach, you finally arrive. There's a half mile walk across the baking blacktop parking lot and the beach in packed like sardines. You can't wait to get into the cooler water.
As you get closer, angry comments can be heard from the crowd. And, after wasting all that time, you find that the local Public Health Department has closed the beach due to high bacterial content in the water. Not again, this is the fifth time this summer!
The most frequent sources of disease-causing microorganisms are from sewage overflows, polluted storm water runoff, sewage treatment plant malfunctions, boating wastes and malfunctioning septic systems.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) pamphlet (below); "Pollution in beach water is often much higher during and immediately after rainstorms because water draining into the beach may be carrying sewage from overflowing sewage treatment systems. Rainwater also flows to our beaches after running off lawns, farms, streets, construction sites, and other urban areas, picking up animal waste, fertilizer, pesticides, trash and many other pollutants. Many of these pollutants can end up in the water at our beaches."
Michigan is blessed to have 1126 public beaches located throughout the State. Local Public Health Departments perform weekly tests of each beach and monitor for fecal coliform bacteria, an indicator of bird and mammal wastes in the water. These bacteria are easily monitored and are an indicator that more serious pathogenic organisms may be present in the water. Testing results are obtained between 24 to 72 hours depending upon which test was performed and the parts per million of bacteria.
As of June 9, 2007 the State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) website reports 4 beach closures. **
**"Disclaimer: Information found on this Web site is entered and maintained by health departments and water quality monitoring authorities for their corresponding monitoring locations. All information should be checked for validity by contacting the respective authority."
Typical beach monitoring is for Fecal Coliform Bacteria associated with sewage and these pathogenic organisms
If your local beach is frequently closed, these websites contain alternatives.
The State of Michigan Beach Monitor contains a list of beaches by County. Not all beaches are public. Please make sure you've choosen a public beach. Using the basic location search gives the best results. You can also click on your County on the beach guard home page to bring up an alphabetical list.
Michigan.org also provides a complete list of Michigan Public Beaches and some information on most locations.
Earth911.org offers a free service to email you any contamination notices about beaches in your County. This service is located on the top right corner of the linked page. (several States are available on this site)
Your County Health Department is the best place to search for recent information on beach closings. A List of Public Health Departments is available Here.
While you're at the beach, or on any water for that matter, please practice safe swimming. Here are some suggestions from the CDC
CDC Prevent drowning.
CDC Healthy Swimming
Swimmers Itch warning. State of Michigan information.
Specializing in waterfront and lakefront properties in southeastern Michigan. Western Oakland County Lakes Area homes, Livingston County chain of lakes and surrounding area. Browse lake info here
Have an Energy Fair in Onekama and They Will Come
Michigan Independence Day 2007 Fireworks Locations
Michigan Lake and River Information Available on MISWIMS
Are You Cheating Yourself At The Gas Pump? (Updated July 13, 2007)
Traffic Waves and Michigan Home Values
Oakland County Sheriffs Boating Safety Inspections
Strawberry Season Starting at Long Family Farm
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Gary,
You always provide great information on Michigan and Michigan Landmarks!
Can I use the links to look up State Park beaches that I take the kids too?
James, Thanks for the compliment. I try to post information people need besides Real Estate. Anything that will boost Michigans economy!
The Michigan.org contains information on State Park beaches. There was also a great article on the Top 10 Michigan Beaches by Ellen Creager in the May 27 Travel section of the Detroit Free Press. One beach that was not mentioned is Brimley State Park, west of Sault Ste. Marie. Warmest water on Lake Superior!
I will check out those additional links, thanks.
Have fun on the water!
Gary
Good info to know. I live a couple blocks from Lake St. Clair and the beaches are all closed off and on all summer. Blossom Heath was only closed for a couple days and is now back open. There are still a ot of lake front homes and business' that put things in the water they shouldn't and the storm drains around here still lead into the lake which means we will still have this problem in the near future.
Terry, The new CSO basins being placed around the Detroit area will help. If Detroit would only change their requirement that downspouts be connected to the sewer, they wouldn't have to open the gates as much. During a very large rain event, sewer levels increase as much as 1 foot in a half-hour. (These are the 24 and 30 foot wide ones)