Throughout the summer Great Lakes Echo will feature an occasional series of public service announcements produced by Michigan’s Ottawa County Health Department to promote clean beaches.
This one reminds swimmers not to treat lakes like a bathroom.
Though the card features a child with a dirty diaper, children aren’t the only cause of the problem. A recent survey from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that swimmers of all ages contribute to water contamination.
Human waste in water can lead to recreational water illnesses, spread by contact with contaminated water in lakes, rivers, oceans and even chlorinated pools or hot tubs, according to the center.
“We encourage beachgoers to use the restroom before swimming,” said Kristina Wieghmink, spokesperson for the department. “It’s an easy way to help keep human waste out of the water.”
Follow this link to other clean beach notices.
The campaign is funded through grants from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.