Chances are if you visited some of Michigan’s numerous public beaches this summer, you may not have been able to enter the water because of unsafe bacteria levels.

On campus, we have our own nasty environmental pollution history with E. coli bacteria in the Red Cedar River. Like the beaches closed this summer, the contamination shut down the river, canceling the annual canoe race between the Lyman Briggs School and James Madison College last year.

But there is hope for the state’s public waterways and beaches. Testing, like that started on the Red Cedar, can help determine the cause of E. coli contamination.

The bacteria occurs naturally in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Increased levels of E. coli in lakes and rivers is usually attributed to fecal waste contamination - either by a municipal sewage system, area farm or more commonly, a migrating population of waterfowl that decided to befoul the water.

Under legislation sponsored by Rep. Patty Birkholz, R-Saugatuck Township, all 83 Michigan counties would be required to conduct weekly testing of all public beaches - on the Great Lakes and inland lakes.

Numerous counties already conduct such testing, but state legislation would ensure all tourists - from in-state and elsewhere - are safe no matter where they go.

Testing is relatively inexpensive, especially considering the millions of tourists drawn to Michigan’s lakes each summer - not to mention the costs associated with caring for people affected by the bacteria.

E. coli can cause nausea and flu-like symptoms if consumed and can cause skin infections in other cases.

The university and local agencies have taken a newfound interest in protecting our campus’ river since official tests caught everyone’s attention.

We hope that catches on.