You don’t have to leave Ohio to visit the beach, as Ohio is home to so many. But if you’re trying to ride out Ohio’s late-July heat wave in the water, you need to stay cautious of the bacteria that might be in the water.
According to the Ohio Department of Health’s Beachguard website, Ohio currently has nearly 30 total beach advisories due to elevated bacteria levels or toxic algae blooms as of July 23.
Here’s what to know.
Flesh-eating bacteria found in Florida waters
The Ohio beaches with bacteria advisories
As of July 23, these Ohio beaches have bacteria advisories.
4 Summit County beach advisories for high E. coli levels
Eighteen of these beaches have reached high, unsafe levels of bad bacteria. Children, the elderly, the sick and those with weakened immune systems are advised not to swim in these waters:
Lakeshore Park at Lake Erie (Ashtabula County)
Strounds Run at Dow Lake (Athens County)
Lake White at Lake White (Athens County)
Camp Denison Municipal Park at Little Miami River (Clermont County)
Izaak Walton League Loveland at Little Miami River (Clermont County)
New Richmond Boat Ramp at Ohio River (Clermont County)
Cowan Lake Camp at Cowan (Clinton County)
Cowan Lake Camp Main at Cowan (Clinton County)
Darby Creek, Lake Erie (Erie County)
Crystal Lake Club at Lake Erie (Erie County)
Bay View West at Lake Erie (Erie County)
Bay View East at Lake Erie (Erie County)
Pickerel Creek at Lake Erie (Erie County)
Dillon-Swimmers at Dillon (Muskingum County)
Catawba Point Association at Lake Erie (Ottawa County)
Hueston Woods at Acton Lake (Preble County)
Paint Creek at Paint Creek (Ross County)
Silver Lake Estates at Silver Lake (Summit County)
Akron Rotary Camp at Rex Lake (Summit County)
Wyoga Lake at Wyohga Lake (Summit County)
Caesar Creek North at Caesar Creek (Warren County)
Caesar Creek South at Caesar Creek (Warren County)
Additionally, the ODH has found unsafe toxic algae blooms at four beaches in Auglaize County. These waters should be avoided at all costs:
Grand Lake St. Marys Camp at Grand Lake
Grand Lake St. Marys Camp Main West at Grand Lake
Grand Lake St. Marys Camp Main East at Grand Lake
Grand Lake St. Marys Camp Windy Point at Grand Lake
What are harmful algal blooms?
Most blooms are green algae and are not harmful, but there is a type that’s highly toxic and has been found in some of Ohio’s waters, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
They are a type of cyanobacteria that can produce toxins, known as harmful algal blooms (HABs). It’s crucial to be wary of this type of bacteria, as it can affect the liver, nervous system, and/or skin.
If you see a warning sign about the algal bloom or even have the slightest feeling it’s in the water, it’s best to stay out.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hitting the beach? Lake Erie, more Ohio beaches with bacteria, algae warnings