Lake County has been hit hard in the last few months by serious storms, and while it’s a relief every time to see the clouds clear and feel the warmth of the sun, residents should be mindful before rushing to celebrate with a swim in the lake.
Health officials warn that E. coli levels spike after heavy rainfalls.
On Wednesday after serious storms caused power outages across the county, nearly all of Lake County’s Lake Michigan beaches had “high bacteria level” advisories, meaning water samples came back with more than 235 E. coli colonies per 100 mL of water.
Many of those levels had dropped by Thursday, but Lake County Health Department ecological services program coordinator Alana Bartolai warned residents to be mindful after big rainfall events, which cause bacteria from animal droppings or other sources to be washed into the lake.
“Usually it’ll be these heavy rain events, which unfortunately we’ve been seeing a lot of this year,” Bartolai said. “Smaller amounts of rain, that’ll get infiltrated into the ground.”
Bartolai said E. coli bacteria levels can also spike during high-wave advisories, when bacteria in the lake’s sediment are stirred up into the water.
The risks posed can be greater for young children, Bartolai said, who typically swallow more water when they swim.
For those who may have unwittingly swum at a beach with an advisory, she recommends watching for symptoms — including gastrointestinal issues, urinary tract infections, stomach cramps or diarrhea — and seeking medical attention if necessary.
Lake Michigan beaches are typically monitored from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with water quality samples collected four days a week. If water samples come back high for E. coli, the beach’s management is notified, and a sign is posted indicating beach closure.
Bartolai said beaches with swimming advisories are still safe to walk on, but warned against swimming until the sunlight has broken down the bacteria or it’s settled into the sediment.
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