Officials in Burlington closed North Beach Tuesday after test results showed the presence of the E. coli bacteria in the water.The section of the beach that was contaminated is near the playground.Watch this storyThe central and southern sections of the beach were safe, officials said.The entire beach was closed as a precaution. All other Burlington beaches remain open."When it rains really hard and all the stormwater rushes into the lake, they can't process all of it. It's just too rich of an environment with E. coli, which they love. Typically, after a good solid rain, that's when we have to close the beaches," said Diana Wood of Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront. "It's definitely not something we like to do, but for the safety of the people we have to do it."Samples taken Monday tested positive for the bacteria Tuesday morning.The Parks Department said it normally tests the beach waters every Monday and Thursday.Samples will be taken every day until the results are negative for the E. coli bacteria. The beach will not be reopened until the test results are clear.E. coli can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, pneumonia and other illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.North and Leddy Park beaches were closed for a time last summer after toxic algae blooms appeared.Get the WPTZ app

Officials in Burlington closed North Beach Tuesday after test results showed the presence of the E. coli bacteria in the water.

The section of the beach that was contaminated is near the playground.

Advertisement Related Content North Beach reopens following E. coli contamination

Watch this story

The central and southern sections of the beach were safe, officials said.

The entire beach was closed as a precaution. All other Burlington beaches remain open.

"When it rains really hard and all the stormwater rushes into the lake, they can't process all of it. It's just too rich of an environment with E. coli, which they love. Typically, after a good solid rain, that's when we have to close the beaches," said Diana Wood of Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront. "It's definitely not something we like to do, but for the safety of the people we have to do it."

Samples taken Monday tested positive for the bacteria Tuesday morning.

The Parks Department said it normally tests the beach waters every Monday and Thursday.

Samples will be taken every day until the results are negative for the E. coli bacteria. The beach will not be reopened until the test results are clear.

E. coli can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, pneumonia and other illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

North and Leddy Park beaches were closed for a time last summer after toxic algae blooms appeared.