Milwaukee's three public beaches were suddenly taken off the swimming menu Tuesday after a combined sewer overflow triggered closures at Bradford, South Shore and McKinley beaches. The warning arrived in the heart of summer beach season, turning the city's lakefront from cooling-off spot to look-but-don't-swim territory. The beaches will remain off-limits until officials determine conditions are safe.
CBS 58 reported that the closures appeared in data updated at 7:39 a.m. Tuesday. The Milwaukee Health Department uses daily sampling, recent rainfall and other events affecting Lake Michigan or the surrounding watershed to make its beach postings.
For swimmers, “closed” is the strongest warning on Milwaukee's beach-status system, signaling an increased risk from harmful microorganisms, dangerous waves or strong currents. The city says people should not enter the water during a closure, while routine samples are tested for E. coli, which can indicate a higher risk of gastrointestinal illness, according to the Milwaukee Health Department.
Why A Sewer Overflow Can Close A Beach
Milwaukee's older combined sewer areas carry rainwater and sanitary sewage through the same pipes. During major rain events, that mix can overwhelm sewer lines or treatment capacity, leading to street flooding, basement backups or sewage overflows into waterways, the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works explains.
The regional system is designed to limit that problem, but not eliminate it. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District says about 6% of its service area uses combined sewers, the system averages 2.2 overflows annually, and its deep tunnels and related improvements have captured and cleaned 98.4% of water entering the regional sewer system since 1994.
Check Conditions Before Heading To The Lake
The Milwaukee Health Department says its beach postings are updated daily during the swimming season. The Wisconsin DNR's beach map also tracks conditions at Bradford, McKinley and South Shore as officials determine when the water is safe again.
The closure is a sharp reversal from June, when all three Milwaukee beaches opened after low bacteria readings, as Hoodline reported. For now, swimmers should treat the closure signs as a hard no until the city lifts them.
