The La Porte County Health Department has released the latest water quality results for public beaches throughout the county.
According to recent samples collected, both Upper Fish Lake Beach in Fish Lake and New Stone Lake Beach have been placed under water quality advisories after testing above the acceptable E. coli level.
The sample measured from Fish Lake Beach had more than 1,700 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water. Health officials advise against full-body contact with the water when E. coli levels exceed 1,000 colonies per 100 milliliters. This result is an improvement from a sample taken on July 28th, which measured over 2,400 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water.
New Stone Lake Beach’s water sample had 255 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water, a jump from the 74 colonies from the July 30th sample.
All other La Porte County public beaches sampled tested below the advisory threshold.
The Health Department says E. coli bacteria can enter water through storm runoff, agricultural runoff, wildlife and domestic animal waste, or other sources. Officials say elevated bacteria levels may indicate the possible presence of disease-causing pathogens.
Water samples are collected on Tuesdays and Thursdays at beaches within the La Porte County Parks system and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Washington Park, Stop 2 and Stop 7 beaches, which are sampled by Michigan City Parks Department. Results are posted on the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s BeachGuard website and the La Porte County Beach Map.
