MILWAUKEE, WI (AP)-- A new report says 14 percent of water samples taken at Wisconsin beaches on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior exceed national health standards. That ranks Wisconsin's beach water second worst in the country.
The annual report by the Natural Resources Defense Council analyzed water samples taken last year from more than 3,000 beaches. The Great Lakes region had the highest percentage rate of water samples exceeding standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 10 percent. Ohio's sampling is the worst at 21 percent.
The EPA requires local officials to post advisories at beaches when water samples reach certain pollution levels, and to close the beaches when the levels climb even higher.
The Journal Sentinel says Wisconsin has nearly 200 beaches on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.
