Great Lakes Beach Closings
One-third of Great Lakes beaches were open less than 95 percent of the time during the swimming season in 2007, the EPA and Environment Canada concluded in last year’s State of the Great Lakes report. The findings were based on data from more than 1,600 beaches. The agencies found that Lake Erie and Lake Ontario – both home to a higher number of pollution sources – had more beach advisories, postings and closures than Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron.
Viewer Tip: Don’t ignore posted beach-closing advisories. High levels of beach pollutants can make you and your family ill if your eyes, nose, ears and mouth come in contact with them. Bacteria and viruses can cause vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache, nausea, headache and fever. Children are most susceptible because of their smaller size, developing immune system and because they are more likely to swallow water when swimming.
Learn how to adopt your local beach and participate in regular cleanups to protect water quality at www.adoptabeach.org.
This information is provided by the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Learn more at www.greatlakes.org.
Season: Summer
(Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada, State of the Great Lakes 2009 report, http://www.epa.gov/solec/)
