Published July 3 2013
The City of Bellevue has reopened the swimming area at Meydenbauer Beach Park following tests that show bacteria in the water is at a safe level.
The city made a decision Tuesday afternoon to close the beach (at 419 98th Ave. NE) as a precautionary measure due to unusually high bacteria levels, which have since tested at normal levels. The source of bacteria remains unknown, but a sewer line has been checked and no leaks have been detected. The city will continue to test and monitor the water.
King County Water and Land Resources, in cooperation with local jurisdictions, routinely tests and monitors water quality at beaches on Lake Washington to ensure that they are safe for swimmers.
Swimming in areas with high bacteria can cause health concerns for some individuals. The Seattle-King County Public Health Department is responsible for determining the public health implications of bacteria monitoring results. Under current regulations, local health officers determine whether a water body is polluted or not, on a case-by-case basis.