The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has closed a Lakeshore beach due to high bacteria in water testing.
Health officials closed Belle River Beach after water samples showed an unsafe level of E.coli contamination. The health unit said samples taken Monday showed an E.coli count of 1,000.
"Certain types of bacteria found in water can cause a number of illnesses," read the health unit's webpage on beach water testing. "The most common are stomach and intestinal illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhea, along with lung, eye, ear, nose, or throat infections or skin issues. Swallowing contaminated water is the main way you may get sick. Bacteria can also enter the body through the ears, eyes, nose, or through broken skin."
Five other area beaches, all along the Lake Erie shoreline, will have warning signs posted discouraging swimming, due to E.coli levels considered too high for safe swimming. Those beaches are Cedar Beach in Kingsville, Colchester Beach in Essex, Holiday Beach in Amherstburg, Mettawas Beach in Kingsville, and Seacliff Beach in Leamington.
The remaining three public Windsor-Essex beaches, Sandpoint Beach in Windsor, Cedar Island Beach in Kingsville, and Point Pelee North West Beach in Leamington; have all tested at safe levels and are open for all activities.
Complete information about the latest beach water testing results can be found on the health unit's official website.
