Belle Isle beach closed due to high levels of E. coli found in water sample test results

DETROIT (WWJ) — The swimming area at Belle Isle is closed until further notice due to concerns of high bacteria levels in the water.

Park officials on Monday announced the beach is closed due to “recent water sample results/high bacteria levels.”

Water testing sample results on the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy website show high levels of E. coli. The EGLE data shows a daily mean of 920.67 E. coli per 100 ML for samples taken on Wednesday. July 10.

According to water quality standards, “all waters of the state protected for total body contact recreation shall not contain more than 130 Escherichia coli (E. coli per 100 milliliters (ml), as a 30-day geometric mean.”

Belle Isle officials said the beach will be reopened when samples have “returned to an acceptable level” and the public will be notified. A timeline for when that could happen has not been released.

The beach at Belle Isle was closed for four days last summer due to high levels of E. coli.

E. coli is a group of bacteria that can cause infections in the stomach, urinary tract or other parts of the body, according to Cleveland Clinic . Many times, it can live in the gut without any symptoms, but some strains can cause diarrhea, vomiting and fever, according to the clinic.