High bacteria rates can result in unsafe swimming conditions at local beaches during the summer. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources monitors water quality to determine if it’s safe to swim at your favorite beach.
The state has about 190 beaches along the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shores, and about 106 of them are regularly tested for bacteria in the water.
Here’s a look at which beaches in the Milwaukee area are closed and/or under advisory status as of July 11, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Which Milwaukee area beaches are currently closed to swimming?
Which Milwaukee area beaches are under advisory status?
Milwaukee County:
Racine County:
To search the latest beach report, you can click here.
Why are beaches closed in Wisconsin?
Most beach closures are caused by bacterial contamination, with E. coli being tested as an indicator of the possible presence of other pathogens, said Diane Packett, Water Resources Management Specialist.
The sources of E. coli levels vary depending on the specific beach. The biggest sources of E. coli contamination, according to research done by the UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciencesthey are:
Milwaukee city health officials preemptively close beaches in Bradford, Bayview, McKinley and South Shore due to rain.
What are the classifications for beach closures in Wisconsin?
Local health departments post signs to inform swimmers of the most current water conditions based on testing for E. coli. A level of 235 colony-forming units is the advisory level and 1,000 is the closure level, Packett said.
Which Milwaukee beaches are closed most often due to E. coli?
South Coast Beach It is the most often beach closed due to bacterial contaminationPackett said.
Water circulation is poor at the current location, which borders a boat landing. The swimming beach is being moved south, closer to the breakwater opening, which allows for greater mixing with the lake water. You can find more about the project plan on the website county website.
What is E. coli?
According to Wisconsin DNR, E. coli is a bacteria commonly found in natural bodies of water. E. coli strains on beaches generally pose a low risk of sickening swimmers and instead serve as an indicator of other possible health risks in the water, such as bacteria, viruses and other organisms.
E. coli is also found in feces, which means that if high levels of E. coli are detected in the water, there is a significant chance that there is fecal matter in the water.
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Drew Dawson contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Which Milwaukee and Wisconsin beaches have or are closed to E. coli?
