5.5. SR 06-13-2011.''~ •~i
Elk REQUEST FOR ACTION
~..iv~r
To Item Number
Ma or & Ci Council 5.5.
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Worksession June 13, 2011 Rebecca Haug, Environmental
Administrator
Item Description Reviewed by
Beach Posting Policy Ga Leirmoe, WWTP
Reviewed by
Tim Simon, Finance Director
Action Requested
Approve the updated Beach Posting Policy to reflect the following: the average of five swimming beach
samples in a 30-day period should not exceed a count of more than 200 fecal coliform bacteria colonies
per 100 mL of water and that no one sample should exceed 1,000 fecal coliform bacteria colonies per 100
mL of water.
Background/Discussion
The Lake Orono Improvement Association (LOIA) attended the March 14, 2011 City Council meeting.
During the meeting, Paul Sheets, President of the LOIA, stated that the Minnesota Department of Health
(MDH) has less restrictive beach posting policy than the City. The Council directed staff to look into the
MDH policy for beach posting.
Staff has been researching other communities' beach posting requirements. Hennepin County Public
Health samples and analyzes the water at 31 public swimming beaches to ensure that they are safe to
swim in. Their sampling meets the EPA safe beach water standards. The measured E. coli bacteria
counts must be below 235 CFU/100 mL in a single sample or the geometric mean of 126 CFU/100 mL
from multiple samples. If the E. coli bacteria levels exceed these guidelines, Hennepin County Public
Health recommends beach closure until resample results show a level within an acceptable range.
In order to maintain healthy swimming beaches, the State of Minnesota established the following
recommendations:
• The average of five swimming beach samples in a 30-day period should not exceed a count
of more than 200 fecal coliform bacteria. cells per 100 mL of water.
• No one sample should have a fecal coliform count greater than 1,000 bacteria colonies per
100 mL of water. If a sample exceeds 1,000 bacteria colonies per
100 mL, consideration should be given to closing the swimming beach.
Staff discussed the different sampling practices with the Lake Orono Water Quality Committee at their
May 11, 2011 meeting. The Committee is in favor of the Beach Posting policy being the average of five
swimming beach samples in a 30-day period not exceeding a count of more than 200 fecal coliform
bacteria cells per 100 mL of water.
N:\Public Bodies\Ciry Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\OG-13-2011\Beach posting.docx
Current policy requires that the beach is posted with a warning sign if the average level exceeds the limit.
Notification goes out to a list of individuals which includes the Lake Orono Improvement Association,
City Council, City Administrator, Sherburne County Public Health Department, Park & Recreation
Department, and Police Department. At the point the beach is posted, daily sampling commences
(Monday -Friday) until the average drops below the limit and the caution sign is removed.
Staff was directed at the June 6, 2011 City Council meeting to determine what would happen if the
average of the swimming beach samples exceeds the limit for an extended period of time and what other
cities that test do in these circumstances. Elk River's current policy would have the beach posted until the
levels fall below the limit, regardless of the amount of time it takes to fall to a "safe" level. This change
was implemented to avoid the need fox beach closure. The MN Department of Health recommends that
consideration should be given to closing the beach when levels are above the safe limit because high fecal
coliform bacteria counts are an indicator that other, more virulent bacteria (e-coli or salmonella, for
example) that make people sick may be present in the water.
Staff contacted Hennepin County which administers beach water quality testing for the cities within the
County. Hennepin County has identified wildlife (waterfowl such as geese and ducks) and storm sewers
(runoff with dog waste) as the most frequent contributors to high fecal coliform bacteria counts. The
"human factor" (human waste from dirty diapers, for example) has not been an issue at Hennepin County
beaches.
Cities in Hennepin County receive the water test results and determine their response individually. The
City of Wayzata closes its beaches when fecal coliform counts exceed safe levels, for several weeks each
year. The City of Bloomington treats their beach sand to kill fecal coliform bacteria that may be present in
the sand as a result of goose feces but does not close their beaches. Other cities do not necessarily post or
close their beaches when counts are high. Hennepin County staff stated that calls have been received
from residents who have reported getting sick from beaches with high counts that were not closed or
posted with warnings.
The City of Elk River does not have large numbers of geese utilizing Lake Orono and the beach area. The
likelihood is that high fecal coliform bacteria counts are coming from the runoff from upstream and
possibly from storm sewers within the City limits carrying pet waste.
Financial Impact
Additional testing would incur an additional cost. Sanitizing the beach would also incur a cost that has not
been determined at this time.
Attachments
• Hennepin County and Minnesota Public Health beach testing policies
• Proposed City of Elk River Water Quality Testing Policy
Action Motion by Second by Vote
FOIIOW Up
N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\OG-13-2011\Beach posting.docx
Beaches: How Safe is It? - EH: Minnesota Department of Health Page 4 of 6
"blooms ". As they grow, algae produce toxic
materials that may cause gastrointestinal illness.
What are the health risks?
Hazards from recreational bathing are related to exposure through swimming or ingestion. The
most common form of illness contracted from swimming in water is gastroenteritis -symptoms
of gastroenteritis include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, headache and fever. Other
illnesses such as respiratory illness or infections may also occur after exposure to
contaminated waters.
How do I know if the water is safe?
Public Health officials access water quality through a combination of sanitary inspection and
microbial water quality assessment.
There is no simple way of determining if waters are free of contamination without laboratory
tests. Local authorities may also decide to take precautionary measures such as testing more
frequently, chasing away birds, grooming the beach to remove contaminants and possibly
closing the beach.
How is water tested?
Water from public beaches is sampled for elevated levels of fecal coliform and/or E. coll. When
high levels are found, beaches are closed to reduce likelihood of disease. Unfortunately, water
testing is often difficult for private beach owners and for popular swimming areas that are not
monitored by health departments.
The E. coli variant known as 0157:H7, made famous in several meat contamination cases, has
also been associated with drinking contaminated water and can cause severe intestinal illness.
In very rare cases, it can cause severe kidney problems (such as hemolytic uremic syndrome).
Although coliform bacteria themselves are not usually harmful, these bacteria can be
associated with other disease. causing bacteria or parasites. In order to maintain healthy
swimming beaches, the State of Minnesota established the following recommendations:
• The average of five swimming beach samples in a 30-day period should not exceed a
count of more than 200 fecal coliform bacteria cells per 100 mL of water.
• No one sample should have a fecal coliform count greater than 1,000 bacteria colonies
per 100 mL of water. If a sample exceeds 1,000 bacteria colonies per
100 mL, consideration should be given to closing the swimming beach.
Who is responsible for testing beaches?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recommended criteria for beach water
monitoring. Congress has recently enacted the BEACH Act that requires states to adopt EPA's
recommended standard and encourage states to monitor and notify public when health
standards are exceeded.
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divsJeh/beaches/howsafe.html 5!23/2011
Beach Water Quality Information -Hennepin County, Minnesota
Beach Water Quality
Information
Hennepin County Beach Water Quality
Information
Each summer, Hennepin County Public Health samples and analyzes the water at
31 public swimming beaches to make sure it Is safe for swimming.
This web page provides a regularly updated summary of beach status -OPEN or
CLOSED. Additional public swimming beaches in the rnunty (not listed here} are
similarly monitored by their respective city or regional park authority.
Beach water sampling
Nearly all water-borne Illnesses are caused by organisms in untreated human and
other animal waste introduced to the water directly or via rainstorm runoff. To
measure the risk of contracting gastrointestinal illnesses from recreational
exposure to beach water, samples are collected and analyzed for Escherichia cola
bacteria, a primary indicator organism.
Beach water sampling results
The table below shows the current status of beaches as of the most recent testing
date. To meet EPA safe beach water standards, the measured E. soli bacteria
count must be below 235 CFU/100m1 in a single sample, or the geometric mean
of 126 CFU/100m1 from multiple samples.
When E. cola bacteria levels exceed these guidelines, Hennepin County
Publie Health recommends beach closure until resampie results show a
level within the acceptable range.
If a beach is listed as closed, you may contact the city listed for more information.
City Lake Beach Status
Deephaven Minnetonka Deephaven Main
Beach - St. Louis Bay OFF SEASON
Deephaven Minnetonka Lindwood OFF SEASON
Deephaven Minnetonka Nocomo OFF sEASON
Deephaven Minnetonka Northern Rd Sandy
Beach OFF SEASON
Deephaven Minnetonka Robinson's Bay OFF SEASON
Deephaven Minnetonka Rocky Beach OFF SEASON
Eden Prairie Riley Riley OFF SEASON
Eden Prairie Round Lake Round Lake OFF SEASON
Excelsior Minnetonka Excelsior Commons OFF SEASON
Fort Snelling Snelling Snelling Lake Beach OFF SEASON
Independence Independence Camp Ihduhapi OFF SEASON
Long Lake Long Lake Nelson Lakeside Beach OFF SEASON
Maple Grove Weaver WI<e Weaver Lake Park OFF SEASON
Minnetonka Beach Minnetonka Community Beach -
Beach Park OFF SEASON
MinnPtrista Dutch C'.amn ('hricrma~ Tres OFF SEASON
Related links
Hopkins Wells
Fargo Building
Environmental
Health
...~
contact
Human services
and Public Health.
Department
Environmental
Health
Em i
Phone:612-543-5200
FAX:952-351-5222
Location:
1011 First Street
South, Suite 215
Hopkins, MN 55343
Page 1 of 2
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Beach Water Quality Information -Hennepin County, Minnesota Page 2 of 2
Minnetrista Long Lake Camp Kingswood-East OFF SEASON
Minnetrista Dutch Camp Voyageur OFF SEASON
Mound Minnetonka Canary OFF SEASON
Mound Minnetonka Sherven Park Beach OFF SEASON
Mound Minnetonka Mound Bay Park OFF SEASON
Mound Minnetonka Centerview Beach OFF SEASON
Mound Minnetonka Wychwood Beach OFF SEASON
Mound Minnetonka Chester OFF SEASON
Orono Minnetonka Camp TEKO OFF SEASON
Orono Minnetonka Summ(t Park Beach OFF SEASON
Orono Minnetonka Casco Point OFF SEASON
Orono Minnetonka Lydiard OFF SEASON
Orono Minnetonka Sandy Beach OFF SEASON
Shorewood Minnetonka Crescent Beach OFF SEASON
Tonka Bay Minnetonka Wekota Park Beach OFF SEASON
Wayzata Minnetonka Wayzata OFF SEASON
Other local agencies that sample beach water in Hennepin
County:
• Three Rivers Park District
• Minneapolis Park and Recreation Department
• City of Minnetonka
• Ciri of Bloomington
Links to other beach water websites:
• Centers for Disease Control
• Minnesota Deot of Health
• MN Laka Superior Beach Monitorino Program
Tips for staying healthy at the beach:
The Centers for Disease Control has the following recommendations for staying
healthy while enjoying the beach:
• Wait 24 hours before swimming after a heavy rainfall.
• Shower after being at the beach.
• Don't mouth or swallow beach water.
• Wash hands thoroughly before eating and after using the bathroom.
• Don't swim if you're sick, or have a weakened immune system.
• Put tight-fitting rubber or plastic pants on children wearing diapers and
those not toilet-trained.
• Take your children for frequent bathroom breaks.
• Don't attract waterfowl to the beach by feeding ducks, geese, gulls, etc
• Pick up your trash.
• If you boat, properly dispose of waste.
Bacteria and viruses in the water can cause some ear and eye infections, stomach
aches, diarrhea, and Flu-like symptoms.
Far further information, or to report water-related illnesses, please
contact Hennepin County Public Health at (612) 543-5200.
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Water Quality Testing at Orono Beach
Testing Frequency
Five samples shall be taken per month using an averaee of not more than 200 fecal coliform bacteria
cells per 100 mL of water. No one sample should have a fecal coliform count ereater than 1.000 bacteria
colonies per 100 mL of water. T"~^^ ° ^'^~ ~"^" "^ +..I,^....+ ^.^..^ Q^..^" ° ^" ""^^.+^•, ,^a
rvi-~reE~a~l C~ISF....~... TL.., . ~~I+~ r.f+b... ~ .~.I..~ ~4,~11 4,., -, .,.~I
Standard for Posting Warning
If the averaee fecal coliform count of the five samples exceeds 200
+L.,, +L....., ~ ^I^~ +~L.... ~+l1....... Q^.,.." .. .,I^ ..I,...~ °.,1~ ~nn~ signage shall be posted at the
beach stating, "Caution-Impaired Water Quality-Potential Health Risk if Swallowed." Daily Ssampling
(Monday -Friday) will be conducted ° • ^'^•• ~^"^•~~~^^ +"° ^ ^~',^^^ until the average ^E
I +-. + +L.., h " F I I " I Inn f .- +..,.. +'.,^ .J~..~
t#~eedrops below the limit sa;~T«1~~;-Q~~n~~,~,-.a„-~e,~~r~.~~n~esa~-.~-~7~, at w is
time the caution signs shall be removed.
Notice When Beach is Posted
• S~ee~Park & Recreation Department places signs at Orono Beach and public access
• Contact Elk River Police Department
• Lake Orono Improvement Association is notified and they perform a calling tree to lake owners
• Posted on city website at www.ci.elk-river.mn.us and Lake Orono Improvement Association
website at www.lakeorono.ore
• Contact Sherburne County Public Health Department at 763.241.2750
• Inform Councilmembers and City Administrator