The La Porte County Health Department has released its latest bathing beach water quality results for E. coli levels.
Results were reported for five beaches in the Long Beach and Duneland Beach areas. Three areas of Long Beach, Stop 14, Stop 20, and Stop 24 beaches; tested at 5, 16, and 5 colonies per 100 milliliters of water respectively.
Two beaches in the Duneland Beach area were also tested, Stop 31 Beach which came in with 12, and Stop 34 Beach which came in at 9 colonies per 100 milliliters.
According to the Health Department, results of 235 or below are classified as green, indicating satisfactory water quality. Results of 236 or higher are classified as yellow, indicating a swim-with-caution advisory.
This round of results did not include the beaches in La Porte, Hudson Lake, and Fish Lake.
The department says bacteria levels are valid only for the date sampled and are intended to provide information about general water quality and the potential presence of disease pathogens.
E. coli levels can be affected by storm runoff, agricultural runoff, wildlife and domestic animal waste, bather defecation, and illegal or malfunctioning sewage systems.
The La Porte County Health Department is monitoring public bathing beaches through September 4. Inland bathing beaches are sampled Tuesdays and Thursdays, while Lake Michigan beaches are sampled Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Current results are posted on the Indiana Beach Alert website.
