Thurston County, Washington

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Thurston County Washington

Swim Advisory Posted at Burfoot Park

July 3, 2021

Contact:

Art Starry, Thurston County Environmental Health Division at (360) 867-2587 or StarryA@co.thurston.wa.us

​OLYMPIA – The Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department has issued a swimming advisory for Burfoot Park and urges the public to not have contact with the water. A set of four samples were collected on Thursday, July 1, showing an average of 7,335 enterococci bacteria colonies/100 ml. This is well above the advisory level of 104 colonies/100 ml. Warning signs have been posted at the public beach entrance.

Follow-up samples will be collected next week as health department staff investigate possible causes of the high bacteria levels. The BEACH program at the Washington State Department of Ecology noted several swimming beaches in Puget Sound experienced high bacteria levels this week. The hot weather and heavy beach use may have contributed to the high bacteria levels.

For more information on protecting yourself, your family, and your pets from common swimming and water-borne illnesses, visit: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/algae-illness.aspx.

For updated information about Burfoot Park, as well as information about other swimming areas, visit: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/algae-swimming.aspx.

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Board of County Commissioners
Press Release