Elevated levels of E. coli bacteria pose threat at main Duluth beach

For the second time this summer, beach goers are urged to stay out of the water at the main beach along Park Point in Duluth. The Minnesota Department of Health issued a warning to avoid contact with water at the beach due to elevated levels of E. coli bacteria.

Author:: BMTN Staff
Publish date:: Aug 16, 2012

For the second time this summer, beach goers are urged to stay out of the water at the main beach along Park Point in Duluth. The Minnesota Department of Health issued a warning to avoid contact with water at the beach due to elevated levels of E. coli bacteria, Northland's News Center reports.

The department of health also issued the same advisory about contact with the water at Agate Bay Beach in Two Harbors. In both cases, possible fecal contamination in the water prompted the advisories.

It has been a rough August for water activity at Minnesota's beaches and lakes.

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control ruled that a rare form of meningitis caused by an amoeba infection led to the death of a 9-year-old Jack Ariola of Forest Lake after he came into contact with the microorganism while swimming in Lily Lake in Stillwater.

The rare infection also led to the death of 7-year-old Annie Bahneman, after she swam in Lily Lake in 2010. Swimming access to the Lily Lake was closed after Ariola's death.

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Recent warm weather and heavy rains may have contributed to high levels of e-coli bacteria at some Minnesota beaches. Duluth officials have advised people to stay out of the water at three beaches and Minneapolis closed a Lake Harriet beach.

Health officials are urging beach goers not to go into the water at four Duluth beaches that have tested positive for elevated E. coli bacteria. The Northland NewsCenter has the list of contaminated beaches.

Theodore Wirth Lake Beach in Minneapolis has been closed temporarily after it tested positive for E. coli bacteria that exceeded state guidelines. The rise in bacteria levels is likely caused by more birds at the lake since the start of migration season. No illnesses have been reported. The lake will be re-tested Wednesday.

Foley residents are being instructed to boil all water before using it after E. coli was detected in the city's water supply. The city says the contamination may be due to a failure to chlorinate properly, and officials await updated test results from the Department of Health.

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E. coli can come from a number of different sources – including poop, farm runoff, or even soil.

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Concerned about elevated levels of E. coli bacteria following last month's floods, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is continuing to conduct water sampling in Carlton County after raw sewage swept into the Moosehead Lake and the river access on the Moose Horn River near Sturgeon Lake.