NORDLAND — Jefferson County Public Health has lifted the health warning from East Beach on Marrowstone Island.
Warning signs had been posted at the beach after water samples collected on June 17 revealed coliform bacteria levels almost five times greater than the allowed 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water.
Testing of samples collected June 20 averaged less than 10 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, well below the safe threshold established by the state departments of health and ecology.
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 also monitors saltwater swimming beaches at Herb Beck Marina in Quilcene and Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day as part of the Washington Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication and Health program.
The joint program monitors water quality at recreational swimming beaches throughout Puget Sound and coastal Washington.
In Clallam County, the program monitors beaches at Cline Spit County Park, Hollywood Beach, Salt Creek Recreation Area and, on the Makah Reservation, Third Beach, Front Street Beach, Dakwas Park Beach, Hobuck Beach and Sooes Beach.
Test results are posted at https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/saltwater/beach-program.
East Beach was not showing up on the Ecology map as of June 23; while Ecology works to fix the problem, test results can be found by clicking the “BEACH data” link under the map.
For more information, visit www.jeffersonc ountypublichealth.org/202/public-health.
