Summer should be the time to head to the beach and cool off, but several Indiana beaches were recently hit with advisories due to high E. coli levels.
The original advisories followed samples collected Wednesday, July 29. Results from Mt. Baldy, Central Beach, Dunbar Beach, Portage Lakefront and West Beach exceeded the state standard.
Park officials advised visitors to remain out of the water until the beaches could be tested again. The beach areas remained open, allowing people to enjoy them from shore.
New samples collected on Thursday, July 30, were found to be acceptable at all five locations. Since water conditions can change, visitors should still check the latest results before swimming.
Follow-Up Testing Cleared All Five Beaches
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South Bend CBS affiliate WSBT reported that follow-up samples were within the safe range for swimming. The lifted advisories covered Mt. Baldy, Central Beach, Dunbar Beach, Portage Lakefront and West Beach.
Indiana requires beach managers to post an alert whenever a sample exceeds 235 colony-forming units of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water, according to the state’s BeachAlert system.
Higher E. coli levels can increase the risk of gastrointestinal illness among swimmers. The National Park Service provides information about how different bacteria levels relate to estimated illness rates.
Visitors Should Check Conditions Before Swimming
The National Park Service generally does not close its beaches because of elevated E. coli levels. One exception is the lifeguarded swimming area at West Beach, which may close when bacteria levels or waves become dangerous.
Current readings and advisories are available through Indiana’s BeachAlert map. Visitors can search for individual beaches to review the latest sampling results and warnings.
Swimmers should also check wave and rip-current forecasts before entering Lake Michigan. Acceptable E. coli results do not rule out other water hazards.