OAKLAND COUNTY (WWJ) - Not two weeks into the official start of summer and over a dozen beaches in Oakland County alone have closures in effect after officials say high levels of bacteria were detected.
According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy's BeachGuard monitoring system, 14 locations in the second-most populous county in Michigan are under advisories or closures on Thursday morning after testing showed unsafe amounts of E.coli levels in the water, mostly due to storm runoff or wildlife contamination.
"It has been a common theme at beaches in metro Detroit," WWJ's Mike Campbell said of the bacteria. "When it gets really hot, the E. coli gets thicker or denser, more prominent in lakes and now we have 14 local beaches that are certainly closed until the levels come down."
The list includes:
• Van Norman Lake - Waterford Hill
• Upper Pettibone Lake - 657 Dunleavy
• Duck Lake - Axford Acres - Ramada Road
• Cass Lake - Pontiac Yacht Club
• Hammond Lake - Hammond Estates
• Elizabeth Lake - Rangate Park
• Eagle Lake - Lakeland Estates
• Cass Lake - Willow Beach St (Keego Harbor)
• Cass Lake - Grove Street Beach
• Sylvan Lake - Ferndale
• Cass Lake - Dodge Park #4
• Carter Lake - Thelma Spencer Park
• Walled Lake - E.V. Mercer City Beach
• Walled Lake - Lakeshore Park
• Wolverine Lake - Spring Lake Heights
Oakland County hold the most lakes out of every other county in the state. Michigan Department of Natural Resources says Oakland County has 358 lakes while Oakland County Parks says the number is closer to 1,468.
Health officials say they conduct regular water quality testing to keeps guests and visitors safe during the summer months -- Oakland County begins in June and runs tests for 10 weeks.
A beaches are closed if, at the time of testing, levels of bacteria exceeded the limits set by the Michigan Public Health Code. The location will remain off limits to the public until bacteria levels fall to acceptable levels.
According to officials, elevated levels of E. coli bacteria can result in illness symptoms including nausea, vomiting, stomachache, diarrhea, headache, and fever.
A number of other infections, including ear, eye, nose and throat infections, skin rashes, and skin infections, could also impact those who swim in contaminated waters, officials added.
"Water is a hostile environment to the bacteria, so they generally do not live long in water," the Livingston County Health Department explained on their website. Factors like wind and wave action, as well as UV light from the sun, generally work together reduce the level of bacteria naturally.
While beach closures are unpredictable, they tend to last less than 48 hours.
"It is important to note that bacteria levels may remain high if a continuous source of pollution is impacting the area," authorities added.
Officials advise the following recommendations for deciding when and where to swim during the summer months:
• Check the weather! Don’t swim for 2 days after heavy rains.
• Watch for signs of water pollution such as discolored water, fast flowing and strong smelling drains and/or street litter floating in water.
• Avoid swimming next to drain openings or outlets.
• Check for pollution warning notices and/or beach closing signs.
• Swim only in designated swim areas.
To check the current conditions and status at the beaches that are monitored, visit the EGLE's BeachGuard here.