Report: Ind. beaches saw spike in bacteria rates

WHITING, Ind. — Environmental groups are calling on northwestern Indiana to improve aging storm and sewer infrastructure after a report showed a sharp increase in the amount of bacteria found in water taken from area beaches in 2010.

The Natural Resources Defense Council report showed that 16 percent of water samples from Indiana beaches in 2010 exceeded the bacteria standard. That's up from 8 percent in 2009.

The Post-Tribune reports the top offenders were Jeorse Park in Whiting and Mount Baldy in Michigan City. Water samples at Jeorse Park exceeded bacteria levels up to 75 percent of the time. Those from Mount Baldy at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore exceeded levels 32 percent of the time.

Indiana ranked 28th in the nation for beach water quality last year.