People should avoid the chilly waters near Sandy Beach in Petersburg and make sure to wash fish harvested there, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said Friday after it found elevated levels of unhealthy bacteria in the area.
Gretchen Pikul of the Division of Water said in a news release that water samples from the beach contained elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria this week, which can cause stomachaches and diarrhea, as well as ear, eye and skin infections.
DEC recommended people wash with clean water if they come in contact with the bacteria-laced water. Anglers should rinse fish caught with clean water too, Pikul said.
It remained unknown Friday what sparked the elevated levels of bacteria at Sandy Beach, less than two miles east of Petersburg, she said. The bacteria is commonly found in feces from warm-blooded animals including birds, marine mammals, humans and dogs.
DEC has collected water quality samples at Sandy Beach 12 times since July as part of a nationwide effort to decrease the cases of waterborne illness at public beaches. Water samples from Wednesday and last week showed elevated levels of bacteria, Pikul said.
"There has been no history of elevated levels of bacteria at Sandy Beach," she said in an email.
A sample was collected from Sandy Beach waters Friday morning with additional sample results expected for Saturday, Pikul said.