New signage is being used this summer at Lake Michigan beaches to enhance the safety of beach goers, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has announced.

IDEM’s beach program this year will use new bilingual signs that explain the E. coli monitoring program, the riskss of swimming, and closure procedures. Another sign explain the risk of illness and provides health tips for swimmers, such as showering after swimming, not swallowing water, and washing hands before eating.

Online updates for each beach, as well as E. coli safety tips, are also availalbe online.

“We’ve utilized survey information while designing the signs to make sure they will be something people will see and understand,” said IDEM Beach Program manager Michelle Caldwell. “The signs also include the link to our BeachGuard Web site, which allows beachgoers to check the status of their beaches online before leaving their homes.”

IDEM is working with other agencies to perform bech water quality sampling. Lake water can become contaminated by E. coli due to a number of factors, such as stormwater runoff, contamination from wildlife, and discharge from combined sewer overflows.

For more information and water quality updates, visit the IDEM Lake Michigan Beaches Program Web site at www.idem.IN.gov/beaches

Posted 7/15/2009