Beach Water Testing Results

The Erie County Department of Health routinely tests beach water to check if it is safe for swimming. Advisories help protect the public from risks of contracting waterborne diseases from contaminated waters, including exposure to toxins found in Harmful Algal Blooms. For questions, call 814-451-6700.

This map:

  • shows Swimming Advisories for
    • Presque Isle State Park
    • Freeport Beach in North East
  • shows Warnings about Harmful Algal Blooms
  • is updated regularly throughout the swimming season (late May to end of October)

To see current advisories during the swimming season, click on the pin icon () at each location.
See icon color meanings below.

Icon Color Meaning

  • GREEN – beach is open to swimming.

 

  • YELLOW – a precautionary swimming advisory or a swimming advisory.
    Swimming is still permitted, but to reduce the risk of illness, beach users are recommended to take the following precautions:

      • Avoid swallowing lake water. Parents should monitor children.
      • Wash your hands before handling food.
      • Avoid swimming if you have a compromised immune system, an open cut or wound, if you’re pregnant, or if you are currently experiencing an illness.
      • Minimize water contact if lake levels are high, heavy rains have just ended, or there are strong winds blowing from the west, as these conditions have been known to cause elevated E. coli levels.

 

  • RED – a precautionary restriction or a restriction.
    Swimming is not permitted at this time. Swimming can resume when water quality testing confirms that E. coli levels have dropped to acceptable limits.

      • Recreational activities, such as sunbathing, volleyball, etc., on the beach would still be permitted during this time.

 

Harmful Algal Blooms

The Erie County Department of Health has formed a Harmful Algal Boom Task Force with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Sea Grant and the Regional Science Consortium. The task force:

  • educates the public about what to look for during summer trips to Lake Erie
  • conducts testing from May or June until late October for the toxins that cyanobacteria produce. Testing is conducted by the Regional Science Consortium.
    • The Toxins tested include microcystins weekly, cylindrospermopsin twice a month; and anatoxin-a and saxitoxin monthly each. Any time a toxin exceeds the recommended threshold, the appropriate signage is posted to alert the public.

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are the rapid growth of algae or cyanobacteria in warm, stagnant waters. They produce toxins that can harm people, pets/animals, or the environment.

People can become ill after touching, swallowing, and inhaling contaminated water while swimming and boating; eating fish caught in contaminated water; using contaminated water to prepare food; or drinking contaminated water. Possible symptoms can include:

  • Skin, eye, nose, throat or respiratory irritation
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Numbness, tingling, or burning
  • Drowsiness

If you experience symptoms, contact your doctor or primary healthcare provider.

Dogs and livestock can become ill after eating scum or algae and licking fur after swimming in contaminated water. Possible symptoms can include:

  •  Excessive salivation/drooling
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Staggered walking
  • Loss of appitite
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Convulsions
  • Liver failure
  • Death

For pets or livestock with symptoms, consult a veterinarian.

Avoid becoming sick from Harmful Algal Blooms

  • Follow the advisories of the Beach Water Testing Results for Erie County
  • Do not enter and keep children, pets and livestock out of bodies of water like rivers, creeks and lakes that have been closed because of HAB or that appears to have signs of a bloom.
  • Avoid bodies of water that smell bad, look discolored, have foam, scum or algal mats, or have dead fish/animals on the shoreline.
  • People or animals that have been in contact with water that may have a bloom, should wash, shower or bath exposed body parts with soap and water immediately.

Where to Learn More