Jefferson County Public Health is warning people not to swim at Point Whitney Beach in Brinnon and Irondale Beach in Port Hadlock.
High levels of fecal bacteria have been discovered at the two …
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Jefferson County Public Health is warning people not to swim at Point Whitney Beach in Brinnon and Irondale Beach in Port Hadlock.
High levels of fecal bacteria have been discovered at the two locations, and health officials said children, the elderly, and those in ill health should not go into the water.
The health department issued a health warning late last week, and said shellfishing is also not advised.
Warning signs have been posted at public access points to the beaches in Brinnon and Irondale.
The warning comes after water samples taken Tuesday, June 29 were studied.
The samples were analyzed for enterococcus — a type of fecal bacteria — and Point Whitney samples were found to average more than 600 per 100 milliliters of water. The Washington BEACH program advisory level is 104 per 100 milliliters of water.
The health department said that by Thursday, July 1, the average had climbed to more than 800.
Elevated levels were also found in the samples taken at Irondale Beach; bacteria levels were 105 on June 29, and 276 on July 1.
The cause of the high bacteria levels is under investigation, according to Jefferson County Public Health.
Fecal bacteria are indicators of pathogens that can make people sick, the health department said, and contact with 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. Shellfish, being filter feeders, can concentrate contaminants from the water into their tissues.
The county health department monitors local saltwater swimming beaches weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day as part of the Washington BEACH program. Water will be re-sampled, officials noted, and if bacteria levels decline, signage at the beach will be changed as appropriate.
For questions about Jefferson County beaches, residents and visitors can call 360-385-9444 or visit website at jeffersoncountypublichealth.org.
To find out about conditions at monitored beaches throughout Washington, go to the Ecology Coastal Atlas at fortress.wa.gov/ecy/coastalatlas.
For more information about the BEACH program, see doh.wa.gov, ecology.wa.gov, and epa.gov/beaches.
