Politics & Government

LITH Beaches Deal With E. coli

Beach closures and swimming advisories due to E. coli in Lake in the Hills is often because of heavy rain and the location of beaches at the bottom of hills.

As an intense heat wave moves across the Midwest, many Lake in the Hills residents will grab swimming gear and head to area beaches for relief.

Unfortunately, sometimes enthusiastic beachgoers find themselves reading a “beach advisory,” or, worse, a “beach closed” sign once at the entrance gate.

, 228 Indian Trail, has been closed by the McHenry County Department Health for seven days already this summer after water-testing samples revealed bacteria levels that exceeded acceptable safety standards.

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Lake in the Hills’ other beach, , at 71 Hilltop Drive, was closed in early June before the swimming season began.

Why All the Advisories, Closures?

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The advisory or closed sign often reflects recent weather conditions rather than just pure water quality.

For Indian Trail Beach in particular, its geographical location at the base of a hill results in an unavoidable collection of water runoff — and the subsequent additional bacteria — that often lead to a closure.

“Indian Trail Beach is at the bottom of a hill,” said Andrew Gemmell, superintendent of recreation for the Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department. “The beach is next to a storm water basin, where all the extra water collects after a heavy rain. Sometimes we’ve had to close the beach just because of flooding. Other times, it’s for E. coli. You just never know — this week it’s hot and the water temperature is pretty hot, which can cause more bacteria.”

Both Lake in the Hills beaches sit on Woods Creek Lake, a manmade lake fed by Woods Creek.

After a storm, the creek carries water runoff from surrounding communities, Gemmell said.

The runoff pushes bacteria from streams and yards into the lake. It also carries fertilizer, wild and domestic animal waste and other pollutants, eventually depositing them into the lake.

Other sources contribute bacteria to surface water, including agricultural runoff, bather defecation, illegal sewer connections to storm sewers or roadside ditches, malfunctioning sewage disposal systems and sanitary sewer overflows, according to the McHenry County Department of Health.

Last year, about 7,300 people visited Lake in the Hills’ beaches during the summer season, Gemmell said.

  • To learn more about how the McHenry County Department of Health goes about testing McHenry County's lakes and beaches, visit here.
  • For safety precautions for swimmers, visit here.


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