The Berrien County Health Department has started monitoring its public beaches.

The Environmental Health team collects and tests water samples from public beaches in Berrien County each week, focusing on detecting E. coli which is found in human and animal waste. Rainstorms, agricultural and wildlife activity and sewage system cailures can result in other pathogens entering the water at the beaches.

If unsafe levels are detected, the Health Department issues a no-swim advisory for the affected beaches and continues to monitor the quality until they reach a level safe for swimmers to reenter the water.

Testing results are updated weekly on Beachguard.