Hannah Young, a community health worker for Hennepin County, on Wednesday showed how water samples are collected at Wayzata Beach.
Hennepin County shows off focus on water quality, testing
July 14, 2016 at 5:25AM
djoles@startribune Going to the beach is supposed to be fun and relaxing; and it usually is. But waterborne illnesses, such as E. coli, can quickly turn summer into a bummer. To ensure our lakes are safe, Hennepin CountyÌs Public Health Department samples and analyzes water at 31 public swimming beaches](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/5P7LZ52UNXHGNO6INUYSHKUZYI.jpg?&w=712)
Each week during the summer, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, workers with Hennepin County's Public Health Department take samples of water from 31 public swimming beaches.
The samples are then analyzed for traces of E. coli, a bacterial organism in untreated waste that can cause stomach aches, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms and even some ear and eye infections.
If E. coli levels exceed federal standards, county officials can close a beach until follow-up samples return to safe levels.
For more information on Hennepin County beaches, go to www.hennepin.us/beaches/.
djoles@startribune Going to the beach is supposed to be fun and relaxing; and it usually is. But waterborne illnesses, such as E. coli, can quickly turn summer into a bummer. To ensure our lakes are safe, Hennepin CountyÌs Public Health Department samples and analyzes water at 31 public swimming beaches](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/ZT3MYMK5KT57UOIKS2ELZTSTUU.jpg?&w=712)
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