The number of swim bans in Illinois has shot up dramatically in the last decade, and so have doubts about the way decisions are made to keep people from taking a dip in the water. "We really don't know what kind of water people are swimming in. We only know what kind of water they were swimming in yesterday," said Richard Whitman, whose main area of research is beach closures for the U.S. Geological Survey. "And by the time we know, it's a little late to tell them."
That's why the drumbeat is getting louder for better, faster tests to monitor when the water is safe for swimming.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-swim27.html
Here is Michigan DEQ's beach conditions site:
http://www.deq.state.mi.us/beach/public/default.asp
And Minnesota's, for Lake Superior:
Posted by Dave at June 27, 2005 09:22 AM