HOUSTON – In just a few days many students will start their spring break, and families are planning to head to the beach.
But Galveston officials will be watching the water very closely during that time.
Kurt Koopmann, of the Galveston County Health District, says bacteria levels in the water are elevated right now, most likely due to heavy rainfall.
The Galveston County Health District recently tested 52 stations along the island and found bacteria levels are elevated at a handful of those sites, from Fort Crockett Seawall Park to Stewart Beach No. 2. There are no advisories for the Bolivar Peninsula.
Koopmann stresses the type of bacteria they're talking about is not the flesh eating bacteria that has killed people or forced many to amputate body parts.
He says the beaches will remain open.
"The beaches are fine and I would not be surprised if the elevated bacteria levels were gone real soon," Koopmann said. "This is primarily a result of the rain we had earlier in the week. We'll see the the levels go down real quickly."
Even though the beaches will remain open, there are a few circumstances in which you should not get in the water: if you have a weak immune system, or if you have any open cuts or wounds.
