CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Swimming was banned at multiple beaches in Evanston and Chicago on Monday due to concerns over sewer overflow and unsafe E. coli levels in Lake Michigan.
Chicago Park District officials said the swim ban was needed after the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) reversed the flow of local waterways during record-setting rainstorms on Sunday.
The reversal, which was done in order to mitigate flooding from the Chicago River, happened at two points: the Wilmette Pumping Station at Wilmette Harbor and the lock at the Chicago River.
Shortly before 10 a.m. on Monday, the City of Evanston said the reversal in Wilmette caused “elevated and unsafe E. coli levels.”
“When this happens, it triggers an immediate closing of all City of Evanston swimming areas for at least 24 hours,” officials said. “The sand portion of beaches will remain open.”
In Chicago, though, park district officials said the swim bans would be lifted based on water quality tests. As of noon, the City reopened 12 beaches and had a swim advisory in place at South Shore Beach.
The City said it would be updating its list of swim bans throughout the day. A full, up-to-date list can be found at this link.
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