CHICAGO, June 14 (UPI) -- Chicagoans seeking to beat the heat Monday had to stay out of the water at more than half of the city's 31 beaches because of high bacteria levels.
Park District officials closed 16 of the 31 beaches on the Lake Michigan shoreline to swimming after tests of water samples showed high counts of E. coli bacteria. City officials blamed releases of raw sewage in Milwaukee 90 miles north for the pollution problem.
The beaches remained open for sunbathers and volleyball players, but lifeguards were instructed to keep would-be swimmers out of the water as a precaution.
Results of more water tests will determine whether the beaches can reopen later this week.
Nine city beaches were closed during the weekend because of bacteria and some beaches were closed during the Memorial Day weekend.
