Well, this is unpleasant: According to KHOU, the runoff from the last few days' rain is washing fecal bacteria from the area into the Gulf of Mexico, posing a potential threat to swimmers. Though it won't kill anyone, the bacteria could make people pretty sick, so advisories have been posted at a few Galveston beaches:

• San Luis Resort
• Beach Plaza Shopping Center
• 60th Street Beach
• 57th Street Beach
• Fort Crockett Seawall Park West
• Fort Crockett Seawall Park (45th Street)
• 39th Street
• 35th Street
• 31st and 32nd Street Beach

In case you wondered, this isn't anything new: Last July, we had a rainy period and the fecal bacteria showed up then, too. It comes from farm animals, house pets, septic tanks and other sources — and the good news is, it clears up after a few days. Affected beaches won't be closed, but swimmers should take care, especially if they have cuts or open wounds.

If you're curious about which beaches are currently affected, check the Galveston County Health District's beach water advisories.