Beach Safety for Human Health
Through natural and human-made causes, pollutants may enter Rock Lake that pose a health risk to swimmers and boaters. Microscopic pollutants, such as bacteria and viruses can cause illness in humans. The symptoms and illnesses that these pathogens cause can vary based on multiple factors. Some people might get a sore throat or cold-like symptoms, others might get diarrhea. Usually the elderly, people with compromised immune systems and children are more at risk of illness from disease-causing bacteria in the water. WDNR and the EPA recommend monitoring E.coli as an indicator of beach safety since it is the best bacterial indicator to assess the risk of acquiring a gastrointestinal illness as a result of using recreational waters.
| Rock Lake Beaches: Warnings & Closures (6 yr review) | ||||||
Beaches —> | Ferry | Tyranena | Bartels | Sandy Beach East | Sandy Beach West | |
2025
| Warning |
6/23
| 8/4 | 8/4, 8/13 | 7/21, 8/20 | |
Closure | 7/28, 8/20 | 7/28, 8/4, 8/13 | ||||
2024 | Warning | 6/4, 6/18 | 6/4 | 6/11 | ||
| Closure | 6/4, 7/22 | 7/22 | 7/22, 7/30, 8/13 | |||
2023 | Warning | 7/24 | 8/21 | 7/31, 8/16 | 6/5, 7/24, 7/31 | |
| Closure | 8/28 | |||||
2022 | Warning | 6/7, 6/21 | 8/8 | 6/1, 8/8 | ||
| Closure | 7/27, 8/3 | |||||
2021 | Warning | 6/10 | 7/6 | |||
| Closure | 6/15 | |||||
| 2020 | Warning | 6/1 | 6/1, 8/26 | 8/26, 9/2 | ||
| Closure | 7/22 | 7/22, 7/29, 8/5 | ||||
Play It Safe at the Beach
* Follow any warning posted at the beach
* Wash your hands or rinse off your body before and after going to the beach.
* Wash or sanitize hands before eating or drinking after swimming or playing in the sand.
* Do not swallow beach or lake water.
* Wade or avoid submerging your head in water while swimming.
* Avoid swimming after a heavy rainfall.
* Get medical treatment if you if you are feeling sick after swimming.
* If you are feeling ill before swimming, do not go swimming.
* Take your kids on bathroom breaks and check diapers often.
* Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at the beach.
* Wash your children thoroughly with soap and water before they go swimming.
How often are our beaches tested? By whom?
The Town of Lake Mills beach (Ferry Park) is tested by the Environmental Public Health Consortium (a partnership between the Jefferson County Health Department and the Watertown Department of Public Health) once a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day for E.coli. The collection and transportation of the samples is done by the Watertown Department of Public Health. Analysis of the samples is done at the State Lab of Hygiene. The Town is not charged for the collection, the transport of the samples nor the testing. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) covers the cost of analysis.
For the City of Lake Mills, samples are collected weekly by City Staff and the Watertown Department of Public Health transports the samples to State Lab of Hygiene along with the Town’s samples. Analysis of the samples is also done at the State Lab of Hygiene at no expense to the City.
What happens if there is a concern?
Results are available within 24-28 hours. For the Town of Lake Mills, the Watertown Department of Public Health will contact the Town Clerk. The Town alerts residents through their text/email system and posts signage at the beach. The beach is then re-tested the following week. The Town currently does not notify residents when the warnings are lifted.
For the City of Lake Mills, the Watertown Department of Public Health will contact City staff. The City Water Department will immediately collect new samples and re-test the samples in-house. The Parks and Facility Director ensures the appropriate signage is posted at the effected beach and an alert is posted on the City of Lake Mills Community & Government TV Facebook page.
What is the difference between a Warning and a Closure?
What Makes a Beach Polluted?
Many pollution sources, alone or in combination, can degrade water quality. Some causes include pet waste, seagulls, geese, and other waterfowl; and the density of bathers at the beach. Factors that can increase the amount of bacteria at a beach include: warm water which helps bacteria grow, windless days which cause bacteria to stay in one location, and wind direction which can concentrate bacteria in a particular location.
For More Information
Beach Advisories, Closures and Human Health
Information about Wisconsin Beach Health | Wisconsin DNR
water. This can crush the organisms before they penetrate the skin.” Read More: Swimmer’s ItchStaying Safe and Healthy in Wisconsin’s Lakes,
What You Need to Know about Blue-Green Algae
Open Water Swimming: Open water swimming has
been increasing in popularity. Swimmers are required to stay within a buffer of 150 feet from the shore.
Navigation Reminder: All motorized boats and Personal Watercraft (Jetskis) must operate at Slow No Wake speeds within 100 feet of piers, swim rafts, and buoyed restricted areas.
Alert: Tyranena Park swimmers are allowed to swim 150 feet from shore yet power boats, at speed, are allowed to operate 100 feet from shore, unless the swimmers are easily seen.
Some common sense safety guidelines are encouraged for Open Water Swimming:
*Let someone know your swim plans.
*Swim with a friend.
*Increase your visibility by wearing a brightly colored swim cap, swimming with buoy.
*Consider wearing a whistle.
*Take frequent breaks to scan your surroundings.