Some Galveston beaches under advisories for high bacteria

Just in time for Labor Day, a handful of beaches on Galveston Island have posted advisories warning of high levels of bacteria in the water. Swimming is not recommended when bacteria levels are elevated.

This is not a new thing, as over the past few months these warnings have been issued off and on for Galveston Island's beaches, but over a holiday weekend they are reason to think twice about exposure to the beach water.

Galveston County Health District spokesman Kurt Koopmann said more water samples are being collected for testing today. He said that after heavy rains, bacteria levels rise.

"Whenever you have a lot of rain, things that elevate bacteria levels usually get into the waterways," he said, alluding to waste and road runoff. "Some months we have no advisories, and sometimes we have many."

These warnings are simply issued to inform the public of the elevated bacteria level so beach visitors can make an informed choice on whether to swim in the waters affected, the advisory states. Once elevated bacteria levels are detected, water samples are taken daily until the tests return to normal.

The Galveston County Beach Watch Program, in cooperation with the Texas General Land Office, developed and implemented Texas Beach Watch to monitor bacteria in coastal recreation waters adjacent to beaches that are used by the public and to notify the public if water quality standards for these bacteria are exceeded. The sampling and notification program helps to ensure the safety of Galveston County beaches and the safety of its visitors.

According to the Galveston County Health District website, samples are taken from the 52 sites on a weekly basis and tested for bacteria. Advisories like these do not mean that the beaches are closed, but that visitors should use caution.

"These are not at all unusual, and Galveston beaches fair very well in national reports," Koopmann says. He adds that none of these advisories are for flesh-eating bacteria, which have popped up in waters off the Louisiana coast.

These sort of advisories are issued to inform the public of the elevated bacteria level so each person can make an informed choice of whether or not they want to swim in these beaches. Water samples are taken daily until the tests return to normal.

The following beaches have advisories attached to them at this time:

Jamaica Beach South

Galveston Island State Park #6

Stewart Beach #1

Stewart Beach #2

East Beach/Appfel Park #2