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For Immediate Release Date: May 24, 2017 Contact: Hannah Goering (847) 377-8099
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Memorial Day traditionally marks the unofficial start of
summer. Before you head out to your favorite lake or beach, make sure to check and
see if it is open for swimming.
The Lake County Health Department and Community Health
Center monitors lake water for bacteria in over 100 Lake Michigan and inland
lake beaches to ensure that the water is acceptable for swimming. From Memorial
Day to Labor Day, beach closure information can be found on the health
department’s Beach Advisory web page, which is updated daily by 10 a.m. at http://www.lakecountyil.gov/2385/Beach-Advisory.
“When our water sampling tests indicate a high bacteria
count, a swim ban is issued to keep people out of the water until the water
quality improves,” said Mike Adam, senior biologist with the Lake County Health
Department. “High bacteria counts may be caused by storm water runoff, sewage
overflow, nearby septic failure, or large quantities of droppings from geese or
seagulls.”
Throughout the summer, the health department samples 10
beaches along Lake Michigan four days per week:
- North Point Marina Beach Winthrop Harbor
- Illinois Beach State Park North Beach Zion
- Illinois Beach State Park South Beach Zion
- Illinois Beach State Park Resort Beach Zion
- Waukegan North Beach Waukegan
- Waukegan South Beach Waukegan
- Lake Bluff Sunrise Beach Lake Bluff
- Forest Park Beach Lake Forest
- Park Avenue Beach Highland Park
- Rosewood Beach Highland Park
The Health Department also samples Moraine Dog Beach in
Highland Park and Lake Bluff Dog Beach once a week.
Test samples taken from Lake County beaches indicate
bacteria levels exceeding water quality standards approximately 10 percent of
the time. When bacteria levels are high, the health department notifies the
beach’s manager and signs are posted indicating a swim ban is in place. Water samples are taken daily until the
bacteria levels fall below the standard.
Follow these tips to avoid hazards when swimming in our
lakes this summer:
- Before heading to your favorite lake, check if
the beach is open. If a swim ban is in place, do not swim in the lake.
- Avoid swimming in lakes after a large rain
event, since rainfall can wash pollutants into lakes resulting in elevated
bacteria levels.
- On Lake Michigan, don’t swim during times of
heavy surf (i.e., high waves), which can overpower even the strongest
swimmer.
- On inland lakes, occasional harmful algae blooms
may occur. Avoid areas where the water has a green or blue-green
appearance. Report any algae blooms to
the Health Department.
While some serious illnesses can be transmitted through
water, swimmers are rarely exposed to them in the United States. Most swimming-related
illnesses cause short-term health problems and usually are not reported to or
treated by health providers. The most common illness is gastroenteritis, which
causes diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain that typically develops one to two
days after exposure. Other illnesses include ear, eye, nose and throat
infections. Skin parasites such as schistosomiasis (swimmers itch) can be
transmitted in some inland lakes.
For more information on beach monitoring, please call Lake
County Health Department’s Environmental Services at: (847) 377-8020.
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