ASHTABULA, Ohio - If you or members of your family are thinking about escaping the heat by taking a dip in Lake Erie, you might want to avoid a popular destination about an hour north of Youngstown.

The Ohio Department of Health has issued a water quality advisory for Ashtabula’s Walnut Beach.

A Contamination Advisory has been announced for the beach because of high bacteria levels.

A water sample taken on Monday shows higher than acceptable levels of E. coli, a bacteria found in the intestines of people and animals.

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