Water samples are collected at beaches to check for levels of E. coli bacteria. E. coli is a group of bacteria that is commonly found in the intestinal tracts of humans and other warm-blooded animals and is therefore used as a sign of water contamination. Many types of E. coli are harmless, but the presence of this bacteria may indicate that disease-causing organisms are also present.

Water quality results are used to decide whether or not the waters are safe, from a bacterial standpoint, for swimming.
A result of 235 is used as the benchmark to make this decision.

Results that are lower than 235 mean that the water quality is GOOD.

Results that are 235 and higher mean that the water quality is POOR.

If the water quality is POOR, a “Water Quality Advisory” will be issued. During an Advisory, full body contact (putting your head under water) is not recommended for children, the elderly, and those in poor health.

When bacteria levels are high, it is possible to develop symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, upper respiratory infections, and ear, nose, and throat infections. Open cuts or wounds can also become infected if they are not properly protected.

A Water Quality Advisory typically consists of the posting of a sign at the beach. The sign stays posted until the advisory is no longer needed. This is decided when the next GOOD sample result is obtained.

Beaches that are currently sampled by CCBH are listed at the bottom of this page.

If the beach is located directly on Lake Erie, you will be re-directed to the Ohio Department of Health’s BeachGuard website when you click on the name of the beach.

Huntington Beach is part of a special program called Ohio Nowcast. Through this program, environmental data is used to “predict” bacteria levels, such as a weather forecast is used to predict the weather. Clicking on Huntington Beach below will re-direct you to the Ohio Nowcast website.

Please click on the beach name below for sample results and other information related to water quality at that specific beach:

• Arcadia Beach, Euclid
• Bay Park Beach, Bay Village
• Briarhill Lake, Solon
• Clarkwood Beach, Euclid
• Clifton Beach, Lakewood
• Columbia Park Beach, Bay Village
• Echo Hills Lake, Brecksville
• Edgecliff Beach, Euclid
• Greenbrier Lake, Strongsville
• Huntington Beach, Bay Village
• Moss Point Beach, Euclid
• Meadow Lake, Solon
• Noble Beach, Euclid
• Royal Acres Beach, Euclid
• Sherbrook Lake, Solon
• Sherwood Park Lake, Solon
• Sims Beach, Euclid
• Utopia Beach, Euclid
• Wagar Beach, Rocky River
• Wallace Lake, Berea
• Walton Hills Lake, Walton Hills