Water Quality Testing
The Onondaga County Health Department samples Oneida Shores Beach and Jamesville Beach approximately every two weeks during the summer season. Samples are analyzed for bacteria Escherichia coli (E.coli). A result equal to or above 235 E. coli colonies/100 ml represents an exceedance of the state standard. Test results are available approximately 24 hours after the samples are taken, as sample analysis takes 18-24 hours.
Beach Closures
A beach is closed when a sample exceeds the 235 E. coli colonies/100 ml. threshold. The water will then be re-sampled daily until levels decrease. Once acceptable levels of bacteria are found, then the beach will be reopened.
The causes of elevated bacteria levels are not always clear. They may be related to land uses in the watershed, storm water runoff, naturally occurring sand or soil bacteria, or other factors.
Oneida Shores Beach
| Date Sampled | Results | Beach Status | Comments | |||
| 8/11/21 | 66 E.coli per 100 ml (left side) | OPEN | ||||
| 166 E.coli per 100 ml (right side) | ||||||
| 8/10/21 | 435 E.coli per 100ml (left side) | CLOSED | The beach remains closed for | |||
| 96 E.coli per 100ml (right side) | swimming until further notice | |||||
| 8/8/21 | 687 E.coli per 100 ml (left side) | CLOSED | Closed until further notice | |||
| 70 E.coli per 100 ml (right side) | due to high bacteria levels | |||||
| 7/29/21 | 29 E.coli per 100 ml (left side) | OPEN | ||||
| 108 E.coli per 100 ml (right side) | ||||||
| 7/28/21 | 1553 E.coli per 100 ml (left side) | CLOSED | Closed until further notice | |||
| 1986 E.coli per 100 ml (right side) | due to high bacteria levels | |||||
|
7/27/21 |
308 E.coli per 100 ml (left side) | CLOSED | Closed until further notice | |||
| 52 E.coli per 100 ml (right side) | due to high bacteria levels | |||||
| 7/15/21 | 31 E.coli per 100 ml (left side) | OPEN | ||||
| 17 E.coli per 100 ml (right side) | ||||||
| 7/12/21 | 2419 E.coli per 100 ml (left side) |
CLOSED | Closed until further notice | |||
| 261 E.coli per 100 ml (right side) | due to high bacteria levels | |||||
| 6/29/21 | 35 E. coli per 100 ml (left side) | OPEN | ||||
| 47 E. coli per 100ml (right side) | ||||||
| 6/28/21 | 52 E. coli per 100 ml (left side) | CLOSED | Closed due to high bacteria levels | |||
| 727 E. coli per 100ml (right side) | ||||||
| 6/14/21 | 66 E. coli per 100 ml (left side) | OPEN | Covid-19 Guidelines Apply | |||
| 10 E. coli per 100 ml (right side) | ||||||
| 5/25/21 | 3 E.coli per 100 ml (left side) | OPEN | Covid-19 Guidelines Apply | |||
| 10 E.coli per 100 ml (right side) | ||||||
Jamesville Beach
| NOT OPEN FOR SWIMMING in 2021 |
Questions or concerns? Click here to contact the Onondaga County Health Department.
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