MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It was a hot one on Sunday, August 25th in the Milwaukee-area, with temperatures near 90 degrees -- and the heat wave is expected to continue into the work week. The beach was the place to be on this sunny and hot Sunday afternoon, and the good news is that South Shore Beach has reopened, and only two beaches in the Milwaukee-area were showing elevated levels of bacteria on Sunday.
South Shore Beach was closed due to elevated levels of bacteria back in July -- but that didn't stop some from hitting the water in an effort to stay cool.
This summer, the City of Milwaukee Health Department kicked off beach season by making it easier for residents to find the most recent conditions of Milwaukee’s beach water.
The MHD uses a public notification system guided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that uses the colors green, yellow, and red to guide the public in current water quality conditions.
In addition to postings at each of the City’s three Lake Michigan beaches, residents and visitors can now find the latest beach water advisories at http://www.milwaukee.gov/health andhttp://www.wibeaches.us/.
Water at Milwaukee’s Bradford, McKinley, and South Shore beaches is tested from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. Water samples are analyzed by both the City of Milwaukee Health Department Public Health Laboratory and Zilber School of Public Health Environmental Laboratory for a variety of factors, including microbial contaminants that may indicate potential health risks. Public advisories are posted within 24 hours of collection.
For more information, visit www.milwaukee.gov/health.
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Additionally, Sunday was the final swimming day at the Milwaukee County Parks wading pools. But pools at Cool Waters and the David F. Schulz Aquatic Park will remain open through Labor Day.
Wading pools that will be open through Sunday are those at Columbus, Cooper, Jacobus, Pulaski-Cudahy, Rainbow, Smith, Tiefenthaler, Vogel, Walker Square, and West Milwaukee.
Other wading pools, splash pads and deep-well pools have closed for the season.
Family aquatic parks at Cool Waters in Greenfield Park and the David F. Schulz Aquatic Center in Lincoln Park will remain open daily through Labor Day.
After Cool Waters has closed for the “human swimming season,” and before it is drained for the year, it will open for a Doggie Dip at 6:30 p.m. on Labor Day, Mon. Sept. 2. Whether fearless about diving for tennis balls or wearing a personal flotation device, dogs of all abilities, breeds, and sizes are welcome to come for a swim in the pool.
For more information on the pools or the doggie dip, go to countyparks.com or call 414-257-8098.