WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM

BEACH PROGRAM CHAIN OF CUSTODY      8   /  29   /_07 _

ANALYST:      Craig Ward_______      

Weather Conditions:

Wind Speed:__mph                Air Temp:_68F_           Overcast:__ Sunny__

Wind Direction____                Water Temp:_ _           Wave Height:_0_Ft.

MPN Scale

0-64                           Good

64-125                       Fair

126 and above            Poor  (three consecutive poor samples is advisory)

235 and above            Advisory        

Note:  Our policy has been to issue swimming advisories when a beach has three consecutive poor readings.  Upon consultation with the Ohio Department of Health, the Erie County Health Department will also issue swimming advisories to beaches that have sample results with an E. Coli content greater than 235 cfu/100 ml.  We will utilize both advisory policies beginning with results from June 28, 2006.

All Water Quality Reports

Definitions

Acceptable Water Quality - Lake Erie water quality that meets or exceeds local guidlelines as tested by the Erie County Health Department for swimming and other recreational uses.

Swimming Advisory Issued - When posted a swimming advisory has been issued by the Erie County Health Department for the noted beach.  A level of bacteria that exceeds acceptable levels have been detected and swimming is not advised until levels return to normal.

The Erie County Health Department collects samples along the Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay shorelines every week between Memorial Day and Labor Day to monitor the bacteriological quality of the water.  These samples are analyzed for E.coli bacteria, which occur naturally in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. The presence of E. coli bacteria indicates contamination of water by disease-causing organisms, which means there is a higher risk of contracting an infection for persons swimming or bathing in it. Each site is rated as "good", "fair", or "poor" based on the number of bacterial colonies found. If there are three "poor" ratings at one site over three consecutive weeks, an advisory to the public is issued to avoid wimming or bathing at that location until a "fair" or "good" rating is achieved.

This site will annouce any changes to the water quality weekly.  Please check this web page for up-to-date water quality reports from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

If you have questions concerning the testing procedure or anything related to the procedures conducted by the Erie County Health Department please contact the ECHD at 419-626-5623