CCHD starts summer beach water quality testing

The Clark County Health Department kicked off its summer beach water monitoring program on May 22. Each year, the Health Department monitors four local beaches for bacteria from mid-May through Labor Day weekend. Bi-weekly samples are collected from beaches at Mead Lake, Rock Dam, Lake Arbutus, and Sherwood Lake.

Signs will be placed at beaches that have unsafe water quality due to high levels of bacteria (beach closed/ advisory). If a beach water sample returns with a high level of bacteria, a follow-up sample will be collected the same week to ensure water activities can be resumed safely. If high levels of bacteria remain, the beach will be closed. Beaches with posted advisories should be used with caution.

Any beach marked with a red sign will be closed for all water activities at that beach. Closures occur when testing of the water shows high levels of E. coli bacteria, which can cause diarrhea, nausea, fever and stomach pain if contaminated water is swallowed. In the event of closure, the beach will be reopened once bacteria levels return to acceptable levels.

Any beach marked with a yellow sign will be put under a “Water Quality Advisory.” Swimmers should use their discretion to determine if it is safe to be in the water, as elevated levels of E. coli bacteria in the water can cause sickness. It is recommended that swimmers limit their time in the water and avoid swallowing any water at the beach.

Visit the Clark County Health Department’s website and/or watch the department’s Facebook page for biweekly updates. Contact Dillon Brost, Environmental Health Specialist/Sanitarian, at 715-743-5116 with any questions or concerns related to water quality and beach water testing in Clark County. For more information on beach advisories, beach monitoring, and beach health, visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Beaches webpage.