The Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW) is continuing a partial body beach advisory for Richardi Park in the Village of Bellaire, Antrim County.

A water sample collected Thursday showed an E. coli level of 547.4 per 100 ml, prompting the extension of the advisory at E. Antrim Street in Bellaire. This level falls within the 301 to 1,000 per 100 ml range defined by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for a partial body contact advisory, activities such as wading, paddling, and fishing are considered safe. 

The beach will be retested Monday, Aug. 12. Results will be shared with the public Tuesday, Aug. 13. 

Water sampling is done throughout the summer months to monitor E. coli levels at many public beaches. When a sample comes back that creates an advisory of any type, the water at that beach is sampled again the next day to keep the public updated. 

HDNW posts beach monitoring reports weekly on its website at https://nwhealth.org/beach-monitoring-program/. Through an EGLE supported web-based program, the public has real-time access to beach water quality results for beaches all over Michigan. Information can be found at https://www.deq.state.mi.us/beach/.