The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has recommended that people refrain from swimming at a Windsor beach.
A bacteria warning has been issued for Sandpoint Beach on the city's east end due to an elevated bacteria level found during weekly beach testing. Sandpoint Beach recorded an E.coli level of 347.
While the bacteria level is not high enough to trigger a beach closure, the health unit says high bacteria levels may increase the risk of digestive-based illness.
"Certain types of bacteria found in water can cause a number of illnesses," read the beach testing page on the health unit's official website. "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."
The other seven public beaches in Windsor-Essex are under a "code green", meaning they are fully open for all activities. E.coli levels at those beaches were all at 108 or below.
Guidelines from the provincial government place the threshold of a bacteria warning at 200.
Complete information about bacteria and beach testing can be found on the health unit website.
