Environmental Health Division staff collect water samples from the five public beaches throughout Washtenaw County from Memorial Day through Labor Day. To protect public health and to prevent the spread of disease, the samples are analyzed for E Coli bacteria levels.
The Michigan Public Health Code sets limits for levels of bacteria at bathing beaches open to the public. If the levels detected during monitoring exceed these limits, the risk of illness increases. Beaches are closed if deemed unsafe to public health.
Washtenaw County Environmental Health does not routinely sample water bodies located on private property. If you are wondering if the pond or lake on your private property or in your subdivision is safe for swimming, or if you want to know how best to sample the water, please see our fact sheet: Is my pond or lake safe for swimming? (PDF)
More Information
For more information on bathing beach or surface water quality, please contact the Washtenaw County Environmental Health Division at 734-222-3800.