Politics & Government

Evanston Tries Faster Test For Lake Water Bacteria

The city of Evanston will try a new test for determining the level of bacteria in lake water this year. Results from the city's old test took up to 18 hours, meaning beaches often closed a day after problems bacteria levels rose.

Evanston will debut a new test for lake water this summer that could mean beaches will be closed more quickly if high levels of bacteria are found.

The new system is expected to bring speedier results when compared to the current test that city officials use, which takes up to 18 hours, according to the Chicago Tribune

In practice, what that often meant was that beaches were closed a day after high levels of the bacteria E. Coli were found, the Tribune reports.

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"What we really want to do is switch from a model of reacting to things to look at more of a model of preventing people from going in the water that is not healthy for them," Carl Caneva, division manager with the city's Health Department, told the Tribune. 

To find out more about the new tests, and how they will impact the city's Health Department, read the full story from the Chicago Tribune

Find out what's happening in Evanstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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