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Waukesha Times

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

7 Wisconsin beaches have unsafe water quality for at least 1 out of 4 sampling days, study finds

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The number of Wisconsin beaches that had hazardous water quality for at least one out of four sampling days in 2020 was seven. | Pixabay/Free-Photos

The number of Wisconsin beaches that had hazardous water quality for at least one out of four sampling days in 2020 was seven. | Pixabay/Free-Photos

The number of Wisconsin beaches that had hazardous water quality for at least one out of four sampling days in 2020 was seven, according to a new analysis of bacteria data in 29 coastal and Great Lakes States as well as Puerto Rico.

Beaches in the state that were tested for fecal indicator bacteria in 2020 numbered 96, the Environment America Research & Policy Center reported in its water quality report this month.

In Milwaukee County, South Shore Beach was cited as having one of the highest percentages of potentially unsafe swimming days statewide in 2020: 75%.

Nationwide, more than one of every 10 beaches tested for bacteria levels was potentially hazardous to swimmers on at least one-quarter of the days that sampling took place last year, the study found. Beach pollution can happen as a result of runoff from paved surfaces, overflows from sewage treatment plants and pollution from livestock operations, the report states.

Waterborne illnesses resulting from swimming in oceans, lakes and other bodies of water affect 57 million Americans annually, according to Environment America.

Gulf Coast beaches had the highest potential of testing unsafe for at least a single day in 2020: 82%. For West Coast beaches, the percentage was 72%; Great Lakes beaches, 60%; and East Coast beaches, 47%.

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Incidence of Unsafe Water Quality at State Beaches in 2020

State# of Beaches Tested in 2020# of Beaches With at Least 1 Potentially Unsafe Day# of Beaches With at Least 25% Potentially Unsafe Days
Alabama24218
California25819342
Connecticut654611
Delaware2341
Florida26618513
Georgia26173
Hawaii2185514
Illinois413212
Indiana21181
Louisiana232110
Maine613615
Maryland62346
Massachusetts55626429
Michigan1966915
Minnesota46232
Mississippi212116
New Hampshire1693
New Jersey210342
New York34017215
North Carolina210877
Ohio544914
Oregon191814
Pennsylvania882
Puerto Rico34285
Rhode Island653013
South Carolina23207
Texas615531
Virginia49294
Washington74416
Wisconsin96707
Source: Environment America Research & Policy Center

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