Epidemiological studies of fresh water bathing beaches have established a direct relationship between the density of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water and the occurrence of swimming-associated gastroenteritis.
DHD#10 collects three samples each time a beach area is monitored. The daily geometric mean calculated from these samples must be below 300 E. coliper 100 milliliters for the water to be considered safe for swimming. After 30 days, a geometric mean is calculated for all the individual samples collected within that time frame. This 30-day geometric mean must be below 130 E. coli per 100 ml for the water to be considered safe for swimming.
District Health Department #10 collects water samples at 21 public beaches on Lake Michigan to determine if the water is safe for swimming for a 10 week period between the Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays. Samples are generally taken one foot below the surface in water that is between three and six feet in depth.
Results are posted on the State of Michigan BeachGuard website.
Manistee County
Great Lakes Beaches
- Magoon Creek Beach
- Sundling Park Beach
- First Street Beach
- Fifth Street Beach
- Bar Lake Outlet
- Pierport Beach
- Arcadia Beach
Inland Lake Beaches
- Bear Lake – Hopkins Swimming Area
- Arcadia Lake – Grebe Park Beach
- Healy Lake – Healy Lake Beach
- Lake Eleanor – Eleanor Beach
Mason County
Great Lakes Beaches
- South Summit Beach
- Bass Lake Outlet
- Summit Township Beach
- Buttersville Beach
- South Pier Beach
- Stearns Park Beach
- Ludington State Park Beach
Inland Lakes Beaches
- Hamlin Lake – Hamlin Lake Beach
- Gun Lake – Sherman Township Park Public Beach
- Pere Marquette Lake – Buttersville Beach
Oceana County
Great Lakes Beaches
- Claybanks Township Park
- Whiskey Creek Inlet
- Stony Lake Inlet
- Lighthouse Beach (Silver Lake)
- Mears Park Beach
Inland Lakes Beaches
- Silver Lake – Silver Lake State Park Playground