Feels like fall, working like summer, swimming-water testing season is back.
Memorial Day weekend marks the return of daily water quality predictions at two Cleveland beaches
Local beaches will be hubs of activity this summer, and not just with local swimmers. This week, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District officially resumed daily beach water quality testing and predictions at Edgewater, Villa Angela and Euclid Beaches to kick off the summer season, a commitment that continues through Labor Day Weekend.
Ironic on a Memorial Day weekend that feels more like Labor Day weather, but you can trust we’ll be reporting when your swimming vibes are ready.
“The Sewer District has been collecting samples at local beaches for nearly 30 years and is one of the few entities in the nation conducting daily beach water quality testing,” said Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, CEO of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. “As an organization committed to protecting public health and the environment, the Sewer District is always looking for ways to continue to refine its testing methods, so the public is well informed.”
About water quality and beach testing
We sample water at recreational beaches daily to predict and confirm E. coli bacteria levels that indicate the presence of coliform that can make swimmers sick. While the actual E. coli analysis takes 24 hours, the predictions are more informative and therefore more helpful for beachgoers.
E. coli is an indicator organism that indicates the presence of fecal bacteria. There are several factors that can elevate E. coli levels at Cleveland beaches, including polluted runoff from nearby hard surfaces, weather and storm activity, underwater currents, and recent combined sewer overflow activity. The combination of readily available data informs our predictions.
As a general rule, we advise swimmers should expect bacteria levels to be elevated for about 48 hours after a heavy storm. A combined sewer overflow can elevate bacteria levels for longer periods, but our investments have been significantly reducing overflows for more than 50 years.
About beach water quality predictions and reporting
Our water quality predictions for Edgewater and Villa Angela beaches will be posted each morning by 9:30 a.m. seven days a week at neorsd.org/beaches, forecasting either Good or Poor water quality.
We post those daily updates on X at @neorsdBEACHES, and the official water quality reports for the previous day are available on the USGS Great Lakes Nowcast system.
Beachgoers who are consulting our daily predictions should be aware that water quality conditions can deteriorate rapidly as a result of storm conditions.
Additionally, the Sewer District will continue to use a water quality sonde, which will be located at Edgewater Park and will measure, in part, harmful algal bloom pigments. Information from the sonde is open to the public in real time to determine if water quality changes.
