Beaches reopen, but public warned of bacteria

Enter the water at your own risk.

Although the McHenry County Health Department has lifted the ban on swimming at the Butch Hagele and Indian Trail beaches in Lake in the Hills, it cautions beachgoers against going into the water.

Expected rains this week will raise the risk for high bacteria counts in the water, including E. coli, an official said.

When there's heavy rain, a large amount of runoff seeps into the water and "you end up getting these blooms of bacterial growth," said Joseph Gugle, a health department spokesman.

Hagele beach was reopened Friday after being closed an entire week for high E. coli levels, Gugle said.

Indian Trail beach welcomed swimmers back Saturday after it was closed twice last week -- once for flooding and the other for a high E. coli count.

The seven-day closure forced Lake in the Hills officials to move Splish Splash 5K Dash to Aug. 2.

The 104 people who registered for the event can have their information carried over, unless they want refunds, said Trudy Wakeman, director of parks and recreation. New competitors can register at signmeup.com.

Meanwhile, the weeklong restriction is hardly a town record.

In 1993, Hagele beach, then known as Hilltop, was shut down for 12 consecutive days.