LAKE MILTON, Ohio - The Ohio Department of natural resources has lifted a contamination advisory issued last week for the beach at Lake Milton State Park.

The most recent results from testing on water samples show E. coli bacteria well within acceptable levels.

Samples taken on June 9 exhibited E. coli levels of 240 cfu (colony forming units) per 100 milliliters of water.

Ohio Water Quality standards recommend that E. coli levels at public beaches should not exceed 235 cfu/100ml of water.

The sample that came back Thursday exhibited an E. coli level of 12.6 cfu/100ml of water.

Alerts are posted when the level of bad bacteria in the water has reached unsafe levels and could make people sick.

Children, the elderly and those in ill health or weakened immune systems are advised not to swim in those conditions.

The 600 foot long public beach is part of the 1,685 acre lake maintained by the ODNR as part of the state park.

Escherichia coli (abbreviated as E. coli) are bacteria found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

E. coli are a large and diverse group of bacteria. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick.

Some kinds of E. coli can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, and other illnesses.

Water tests are conducted once a week at Lake Milton.