Chautauqua County is blessed with several bodies of fresh water that support outdoor recreational activities. There are a number of public bathing beaches located at our areas lakes. The Chautauqua County Health Department considers it very important to protect the public health of the residents and visitors who enjoy these lakes, in particular the permitted bathing beaches.

The Chautauqua County Health Department monitors permitted bathing beaches for specific indicator bacteria (fecal coliforms and E.coli) to determine compliance with Subpart 6-2, Section 6-2.15(c) of the New York Sanitary Code. Closure of beaches at times when the water is bacteriologically unsafe for swimming is the best means of protecting the public from possible disease exposure. Beach closures are based on exceedance of these indicator bacteria standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Beach closures occur immediately (the same day) as laboratory test results indicate samples exceed water quality standards. When the indicator bacteria levels become too high, the potential risk to human health from bacteria in the water becomes too great, triggering a beach closure. When a beach is deemed closed signs are posted along the beach visible to the public.

Status of the bacteriological quality of Chautuaqua County permitted public beaches are listed below: