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High Bacteria Levels Close Beaches Nationwide Ahead of Independence Day

State and local officials have stepped up water sampling with daily advisories when tests exceed safe thresholds.

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Overview

  • As of July 2, 16 Chicagoland beaches remain closed for E. coli contamination or erosion following routine monitoring.
  • Beaches in New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Michigan and California have also been shut or flagged for no-swim advisories after bacterial counts surpassed health limits.
  • Lake County health officials now conduct daily retests when initial samples show high E. coli levels to expedite safe reopenings.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that Vibrio bacteria in coastal waters can trigger severe gastrointestinal and skin infections.
  • Chronic contamination hotspots and proposed cuts to federal monitoring grants threaten the long-term effectiveness of water quality testing programs.