Macomb County to Stop Water Sampling at Blossom Heath

Macomb County Health Department officials have announced they will not be testing the water at this summer.

The move is partially a cost savings effort, but also due to the fact the beach has been closed to swimming for most of the past two years, according to county officials.

"We notified the city we are going not going to sample there anymore," said Gary White, Macomb County Health Department interim deputy health officer.

White said the city was offered the opportunity to continue the testing for $2,800 for the year, but the city decided against that spending those funds.

"I made the decision in these difficult times to ask that Blossom Heath Beach be closed," said City Manager Ben Hughes. "We will revisit the issue in 2013."

Although the beach will be closed to swimming, the remainder of the park and the boat launches will remain open, Hughes said.

Swimming will be available at Veterans Memorial Park, along with the splash pad at the lakefront park. The city swimming pool will also be an option for residents this year.

The county will continue testing would continue at , Hughes and White added.

During the past two years, the beach had high levels of E. coli, which is in excess of 300 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water.  Swimmers who come in contact with the water with high E. coli levels could contract minor illnesses, including sore throats or diarrhea.

“With the health department cutting back and not a lot of capital available, my boss and the city council said it’s not worth spending several thousand dollars a year for monitoring that we may never use,” Parks and Recreation Director Greg Esler told the Macomb Daily. “The other thing is, it’s never good publicity on a slow news day in the media to see headlines about a park in St. Clair Shores having to close because we take great pride in our parks and our recreational facilities for our residents.”