As summer arrives and residents and visitors flock to the North Coast, the Erie County Health Department has launched its annual summer beach monitoring program to ensure local waters are safe for swimming, according to a news release.
Throughout the season, dedicated summer beach interns will be deployed across the county to collect and analyze water samples at popular local bathing beaches, the release said.
An Erie County Health Department intern is collecting and analyzing water samples at a local bathing beach. (Courtesy of Erie County Health Department)
These interns work directly within the Erie County Health Department’s advanced Regional Response Water Lab.
The daily testing protocols look for E.coli levels that could pose health risks to swimmers, allowing the Health Department to issue timely advisories if water quality falls below safe standards, according to the release.
The program provides an invaluable service to the community while offering the interns crucial, hands-on field experience.
“The data from the samples collected by our interns all us to monitor the beaches consistently throughout the summer,” said Anne Wells, supervisor for the Regional Response Water Lab at the Erie County Health Department, in the release. “It’s a very reliable testing process, and the real-world outcome is simple: empower local families and vacationers to make safe decisions when they step into the water.”
The Erie County Health Department has launched its annual summer beach monitoring program to ensure local waters are safe for swimming. (Courtesy of Erie County Health Department)
“Clean, safe recreational water is central to our quality of life and our local tourism economy here in Erie County,” stated Peter T. Schade, commissioner of the Erie County Health Department, in the release. “We want everyone to enjoy our beaches with complete peace of mind this summer.”
Beach monitoring updates and active water advisories will be updated regularly throughout the summer season, according to the release.
For more information about beach testing schedules, sample analysis or the technical capabilities of the Regional Response Water Lab, visit eriecohealthohio.com/regional-response-water-laboratory/.