HomeMy WebLinkAbout061824 email - Press Release_ Swimming Beach Warning_ East BeachGood evening,
High levels of fecal bacteria in the water off East Beach at 330 East Beach Road in Nordland have prompted Jefferson County Public Health to issue a health advisory and post a warning
sign at the beach.
Samples collected Monday, June 17th at the beach and analyzed for enterococcus bacteria averaged over 500 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water. The Washington BEACH program warning
level is 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water.
The public is urged not to swim or wade and to avoid contact, including pets, with the water at East Beach until new samples can be analyzed and the beach can be declared safe.
nterococci bacteria in the water indicates that human or animal feces are present. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory
infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Jefferson County Public Health monitors local saltwater swimming beaches weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day as part of the Washington BEACH program. The Beach Environmental Assessment,
Communication, and Health (BEACH) <https://www.ecy.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Water-quality/Saltwater/BEACH-program> Program is a joint program of the Washington Departments of Health
and Ecology that monitors water quality at recreational swimming beaches throughout Puget Sound and coastal Washington. Jefferson County staff and other local organizations collect
water samples at public swimming beaches in Jefferson County and submit them to the state lab for testing. The most recent results are posted at the above linked website or on the beach
closures map <https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/coastalatlas/tools/BeachClosure.aspx> .
To see this press release on our website, visit: Swimming Beach Warning, East Beach <https://jeffersoncountypublichealth.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1366>
To share this press release on your Facebook, visit: Swimming Beach Warning, East Beach <https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=779866954324236&set=pb.100069028156009.-2207520000>
To see this press release on our Instagram, visit: Swimming Beach Warning, East Beach <https://www.instagram.com/p/C8YX4jMzjXl/>
Thank you,
Liz Anderson
Gender Pronouns: she/her/hers
Communications Specialist
Jefferson County Public Health
615 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Main: 360-385-9400
Direct: 360-385-9405
landerson@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:landerson@co.jefferson.wa.us> | https://jeffersoncountypublichealth.org/ <https://jeffersoncountypublichealth.org/>
<https://www.instagram.com/jeffcopublichealth_wa/> <https://www.facebook.com/jeffersoncountypublichealth/>
Always Working for a Safer and Healthier Jefferson County
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