Who tests the water, and when?

The Jefferson County Public Health Department samples the beach water weekly during the summer to test for bacteria. Generally, the water at Ripley Park beach is safe for swimming. Results of the water testing will vary during the season depending on usage and environmental factors.

To view the current beach status, visit this page from the Wisconsin DNR - Current Beach Closures & Advisories

What does an Advisory mean at Ripley Park?

Water Qualities Advisories are put into place when samples from the lake return with higher than normal or elevated levels of certain bacteria. If a Advisory is implemented, yellow signs will be posted at the entrance to the park as well as throughout the park. Recommendations from Jefferson County Health are as follows.

  • For your safety:
    • Swim at your own risk
    • Do not ingest lake water
    • Shower after swimming
      • Showers available in Family Restrooms at Ripley Shelter
    • Wash hands before eating
    • Do not swim if you are currently sick
      • Some people who are at higher risk for illness are babies, toddlers, elderly adults, and anyone with a compromised immune system.

Advisories vs. Closures

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that beaches be posted with an advisory sign informing the public of increased health risk when a water sample exceeds 235 colony-forming units of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water.

  • Advisories: The “Advisory” standard of 235 CFU/100 mL (E. coli in water) was adopted based upon data from three USEPA studies indicating the risk of acquiring a gastrointestinal illness as a result of using recreational waters.
  • Closures: If the water samples exceed 1,000 CFR/100ML, the Public Health Department would require the beach to be closed. Red closure signs will be posted at the park entrance and the beach fence will be up to close access to the beach.

More from the DNR: "In Wisconsin, cities and counties that receive federal funding for beach monitoring and notification under the BEACH Act are required to report their advisories and closures through the Wisconsin Beach Health database on the DNR website. You can find all current beach advisories and water quality data in the database or on the Beach Closings and Advisories Map." - dnr.wisconsin.org