| 2007 Beach Closings |
To prevent ilnesses associated with swimming at Illinois beaches, each
licensed beach is inspected annually to determine that required safety features
are in place and there are no sources of possible pollution such as sewage
discharges. These inspections are done either by the Illinois Department of
Public Health or a local health department, or, in Chicago, by the Chicago Park
District. The Department also Two sample bottles are mailed to each licensed beach operator every two weeks, beginning in May and concluding in September, for sampling the shallow and deep areas of the beach. If both of the sample results exceed 235 cfu per 100 mL, the operator is ordered to immediately close the beach. If one of the sample results exceeds the 235 level, the facility is required to submit two additional samples. If either of those re-sample results exceeds 235 cfu/100mL, the beach is ordered to close. Beaches are allowed to reopen when both samples collected on the same day have less than 235 cfu/100mL. The Department's regulations also contain a maximum standard for fecal coliform bacteria (500 cfu per 100 mL); the same testing frequency and closing procedures apply. Beaches located in Lake and McHenry counties are sampled by staff from the local health departments there and those agencies have chosen to sample for fecal coliform levels. Both E. coli and fecal coliform serve as good indicators of bacterial contamination because they live in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. E. coli is a subgroup of the fecal coliform bacteria. The water quality at many Illinois beaches can be influenced by heavy rainfall. If a recent heavy rainfall makes the water look cloudy, the beach may not be safe even if the most recent sample results were satisfactory. Use common sense and good judgment anytime you swim in natural waters. If the water does not look inviting, don't swim. Since most of the swimming-related disease outbreaks in Illinois have been associated with fecal discharges from swimmers, the Department requires that all children who are not toilet trained wear tight-fitting rubber or plastic pants. Swimmers are advised not to drink the beach water. If you have any questions about the bathing beach program, contact the Department's Division of Environmental Health at 217-782-5830. |
Beach Closings 2007 Beach Closings |
Searchable Information Illinois Beach Information |
Forms Application for
Swimming Facility License |
Publications |
Rules |
  |
Illinois Department
of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments |
requires that each of the 335
licensed public beaches be sampled every two weeks to determine that bacterial
levels in the water are within limits established in the Swimming Pool and
Bathing Beach Code (77 Ill. Admin. Code 820). The maximum E. coli level allowed
– 235 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters (cfu/100mL) – is based
on guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for
recreational waters.