All Lake County Beaches Now Open After 3 Closed Last Week Due To High Bacteria Levels

LAKE COUNTY, IL — All swimming beaches in Lake County are open and no health advisories are currently in effect.

This should come as good news for many hoping to dip their toes in the sand and water as hotter temps are on the way in coming days. A high of 84 to 87 degrees is in the forecast for Chicago area communities Wednesday.

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Last week, three beaches on Bangs Lake in Wauconda were closed, according to the Lake County Health Department.

The three beaches on Bangs Lake where bacteria levels measured high were:

• Maimans Lakeside Manor Beach, which is located on the far northeast side of the lake
• A beach run by the Lake Villa Association, Inc., which is also located on the northeast side of the lake
• A beach run by the Elmcrest Improvement Association, which is located on the northwest portion of the lake

As of Tuesday morning, all of those beaches — as well as all other beaches monitored by the health department in Lake County — are open.

The Lake County Health Department monitors lake water for E.coli bacteria in more than 100 Lake Michigan and inland lake beaches to ensure that the water is acceptable for swimming. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, beach closure information can be found through an interactive map on the Health Department’s Beach Monitoring and Advisories web page, which is updated daily by 10 a.m.

When bacteria levels are high, the Health Department notifies the beach’s manager, and signs are posted indicating a swim ban is in place. Water samples are taken daily until the bacteria levels fall below the standard.

“Recreational water illnesses can not only hamper your summer plans, but they can also get others sick,” said Alana Bartolai, Ecological Services Program Coordinator. “We monitor the water quality to ensure that individuals and families can enjoy the many beautiful lakes and beaches in Lake County to their fullest.”