By Saihaj Madan
Seven public beaches in Michigan are not safe for swimming this Fourth of July weekend because of high levels of E. coli bacteria. State officials said on Thursday, July 3, that the beaches were either closed or under contamination advisories, reported Detroit Free Press. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) said that water samples showed unsafe bacteria levels, which could make swimmers sick. Here鈥檚 a list of the affected beaches. Orchard Lake Country Club beach (Oakland County) – Closed due to the storm runoff.Maple Beach at Kensington Metro Park (Oakland County) – Closed; contamination source is not known.Handsome Lake Crossroads for Youth beach (Oakland County) – Closed; contamination source unknown.Elm Point Beach on Lake Charlevoix (Charlevoix County) – Advisory due to an unknown source.Gun Lake County Park beach (Allegan County) – Advisory due to stormwater runoff.Lake St. Clair Memorial Park Beach (Macomb County) – Advisory; contamination source not known.Sunset Beach on West Grand Traverse Bay (Grand Traverse County) – Advisory; contamination source unknown. County health departments regularly test the water at the public beaches. A beach is considered safe for swimming if the E. coli levels are below 300 per 100 milliliters of water. Also Read: Stimulus Checks Coming For July 4th 2025? Here鈥檚 What We Know The US Environmental Protection Agency explains that the coliform bacteria are usually harmless but can also signal the presence of more dangerous bacteria like E. coli. 鈥淭hey are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, fecal bacteria (indicated by the E. coli species) could be present,鈥 the EPA said, reported Detroit Free Press. Swimming in the contaminated water can lead to stomach issues and more other serious health problems, especially for children, seniors, and people with weak immune systems. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.