Swimming advisory issued for four public beaches in St. Clair County

The St. Clair County Health Department has issued a health advisory for several public beaches after detecting elevated E. coli levels.

Swimmers are being advised to avoid Holland, Keewahdin, Lighthouse and Lakeside beaches until the department has confirmed the E. coli levels have returned to an acceptable level, according to a statement Wednesday, Aug. 13.

E. coli is a bacteria found in the digestive system of warm blooded animals. During storms and heavy rainfall, E. coli can become a health risk for swimmers when animal feces are washed into the water.

The St. Clair County Health Department tests the county's public beaches daily and will update the advisory when it confirms the E. coli levels have decreased to an acceptable level.

Updates on the safety of beaches can be found on t