For the City Times

STEVENS POINT — Parks Director Dan Kremer has sent out a press release detailing the lifted advisory for Iverson and Mead Park swimming beaches.

On Wednesday, July 24 the City of Stevens Point was notified that tests revealed that there were elevated bacteria levels at Iverson and Mead Parks, leading to the initial warning.

The release is below:

The advisory swimming warning is now lifted at Iverson Park and Mead Park swim beaches as of today. The Stevens Point Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department was notified by the Portage County Health and Human Services Department that water test results have indicated bacteria levels are now below advisory levels. 

Portage County beaches are sampled for the presence of E. coli bacteria throughout the swimming season from Memorial Day to Labor Day by the Portage County Health and Human Services Department.

In the event bacteria levels are elevated above 235 cfu/100ml, which is established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an increased health risk to swimmers, an advisory sign will be posted at that beach. Swimming is allowed, but caution is recommended. In the event that bacteria levels are at an unsafe level of 1,000 cfu/100ml, a Beach Closure sign will be posted and swimming is not recommended. 

On Wednesday, July 24 the City of Stevens Point was notified that tests revealed that there were elevated bacteria levels at Iverson and Mead Parks. Warning signs were posted and notifications were posted on the City’s website. As of 1:00 pm on July 25, 2019, further testing confirmed counts at Mead Park of 33.6 cfu/100ml and 121.1 cfu/100ml at Iverson Park. The advisory signs have been removed in conjunction of the lifting of the advisory notice. 

For more information or to see results you may visit the Portage County Beach Monitoring page https://www.co.portage.wi.us/department/health-and-human-services/division-of-public-health/environmental- health/portage-county-beach-monitoring 

Or the Wisconsin Beach Health webpage at www.wibeaches.us