EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (AP) — Indiana beaches on Lake Michigan were closed
because of water quality concerns 111 times in 2007, nearly twice as often as
in 2006, according to a report by an environmental group.
The worst beaches in Indiana were Jeorse Park near the marina in East Chicago
and Washington Park in LaPorte County, the report said. Jeorse Park beach
exceeded Indiana’s maximum acceptable level of E. coli bacteria 52 percent of
the time samples were taken. Washington Park beach exceeded the limit 42
percent of the time, according to the report released Tuesday by the Natural
Resources Defense Council. Most of the beaches sampled were in the teens.
“This report once again shows that we need to do a better job taking care of
the Great Lakes,” said Henry Henderson, director of the Defense Council’s
Midwest Program.
High levels of E. coli bacteria contribute to illnesses for swimmers, such as
diarrhea, ear, nose and throat problems and hepatitis. It also hurts the
tourism industry and the economy because the cost of closing a Lake Michigan
beach is estimated at $8,000 to $37,000 per day, according to the report.
Across the country, beaches were closed more than 20,000 days for the third
consecutive year, the report released Tuesday says.
“The number of closures for Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin indicate
continuing problems for Lake Michigan,” said Tom Anderson, executive director
of the Save the Dunes Council. “Likewise, most of our tributaries are
impaired for E. coli, and until we eliminate at source, Lake Michigan will
suffer.”
According to the report, high E. coli readings on Indiana beaches were due to
stormwater overflows into Lake Michigan about 40 percent of the time. When it
rains, untreated sewage and contaminated stormwater overflows past treatment
plants into beach waters, carrying human and animal waste, garbage and
bacteria into the water.
More than 60 percent of the time the cause of high readings was unknown.
“We need to be doing more in the way of research and investigation to get to
what these issues are. Many of these are infrastructure issues that can be
addressed and should be addressed,” Defense Council spokesman Josh Mogerman
said.
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Posted 7/31/2008
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