Submitted by Thurston County
Recent water quality testing for the Burfoot Park beach area shows that bacteria levels that were elevated earlier in July have now dropped, and the swimming advisory for the beach has been lifted.
On July 18, Thurston County officials posted signs at Burfoot Park after tests showed elevated levels of bacteria in the water. While the beach was never closed to swimming, the signs advised park visitors to use caution and recommended avoiding contact with the water. Now that bacteria levels have dropped, the advisory signs have been removed.
“While the health risk at Burfoot Beach was relatively low for most people in this case, we wanted to be sure that people visiting the beach had good information and were aware of the situation,” said Art Starry, Director of the county’s Environmental Health Division. “We want people to have a good experience and enjoy the water safely.”
For more information on protecting yourself, your family and your pets from common swimming and water-borne illnesses and other swimming hazards, visit the county health department’s web page at www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ehadm/swimming/illness_hazards.html.
The Washington State Department of Ecology partners with local and state health agencies on the Washington BEACH Program to monitor many popular saltwater beaches for high bacteria levels. To learn more about the Washington BEACH Program, visit www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/beach/. You can also get updates from the Washington State Department of Ecology blog called “ECOconnect” at http://ecologywa.blogspot.com.
