Looking to hit the beach? Hold your swim trunks! As beautiful as Milwaukee’s beaches are, they’re not always safe. Sewage overflows, rip currents, high water levels and other conditions can make it unsafe to swim. In particular, sewage overflows sometimes foster high levels of bacteria, which can cause anything from a rash or upset stomach, to serious illness, or even death!
Fortunately, Milwaukee keeps a close eye on the water quality. By downloading Swim Guide, a free app updated daily with data compiled by local health departments, municipalities and members of the Waterkeeper Alliance, you can have easy access to the latest information on beach safety.
Using it is simple! Turn on your location and Swim Guide will show a map of the nearest beaches and their water quality. Safe beaches marked green, unsafe beaches are marked red, and beaches with unreliable or out-of-date information are marked gray. More detailed information on the app and water quality can be found here.
Remember: beach closings aren’t optional. Pathogens can present a serious risk to human health, and are unpleasant even in the best scenarios. Instead, if your favorite beach is in the red, either find another spot or wait for a better day!