Water sampling results this weekend allowed some restrictions to be lifted from downtown Traverse City beaches after a city pump failure resulted in approximately 54,000 gallons of raw sewage flowing into the Boardman River Thursday.

E. coli test results Saturday met recreational water quality standards in several waterways, allowing full body contact to resume at Clinch Park, Bryant Park, and Traverse City Senior Center beaches. In addition, partial body contact - such as wading, fishing, and paddling - is now cleared at Sunset Park Beach and the lower Boardman River. Follow-up sampling of Sunset Beach and the Boardman River will occur on Monday to continue monitoring E. coli levels.

Sampling results were as follows:
Clinch Park Beach: 11 E. coli count per 100ml, water quality index 1
Sunset Park Beach: 344 E. coli count per 100ml, water quality index 2
Senior Center Beach: 96 E. coli count per 100ml, water quality index 1
Bryant Park Beach: 156 E. coli count per 100ml, water quality index 1
Boardman River North Union and Front Street: 402 E. coli count per 100ml, water quality index 2
Boardman River Boat Launch: 373 E. coli count per 100ml, water quality index 2

Level 1: E. coli levels meet state swimming standards for full body contact (0-300 E. coli)
Level 2: E. coli levels meet state standards for wading, fishing, and boating. Contact above the waist not advised (301-1000 E. coli).