Southern Wisconsin Times

The City of Janesville Recreation Division has announced the closure of Lions Beach due to elevated bacteria levels detected in recent water quality tests. The beach, located at 1401 Palmer Dr., undergoes weekly water quality sampling, with the State Hygiene Lab in Madison responsible for testing these samples for E. coli bacteria.

During the week of July 15, a test revealed bacteria levels at 1,011 CFU/100 mL in the swimming area. According to water quality standards, any result between 0 and 250 CFU/100 mL is considered safe for swimming. Results between 250 and 1,000 CFU/100 mL are also deemed safe but require public notice. However, results exceeding 1,000 CFU necessitate the closure of the swimming area until further testing indicates lower bacteria levels.

"Bacteria counts at the beach vary throughout the season depending on usage and environmental factors such as rainfall," noted a representative from the Recreation Division.

The City will reopen Lions Beach once two subsequent tests show bacteria levels below the established criteria. For further inquiries, residents can contact the Recreation Division at (608) 755-3030.