Houghton Beach will remain devoid of swimmers and water enthusiasts for at least another week as local officials continue to grapple with high bacteria levels. The beach has been off-limits since July 16, when tests indicated a health risk to the public. According to the City of Kirkland, water quality staff from the King County Water and Land Resources Division identified bacteria counts that surpassed safe levels, prompting extended cautions.

Despite the diligent efforts of King County crews, safely reopening the popular lakefront has been postponed, much to the chagrin of residents eager to dive back into their routine water activities. Heading into the beach next week, King County crews aim to conduct additional testing, in hopes the results will align with the criteria needed for the ban to be lifted.

The community's concerns center on the exact cause of the increased bacteria levels and the potential impacts on health and the environment. Officials have yet to pinpoint the source of contamination but maintain a commitment to transparency and timely updates, as per the City of Kirkland.