As summer temps rise, Dane County is using new technology to keep beaches free from algae and harmful bacteria.

Goodland County Park is the second in the county to get the Clean Beach Corridor with a five-sided barrier swimming area where filters clean the water and pump it back in, removing algae-causing plants and E. coli.

There has been no beach closing where the $80,000 system has been used, county officials say. Lake Mendota County Park in Middleton was the first beach to get the system.

Goodland County Park beach was closed 18 times last year for problem-causing algae and bacteria.

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi including money for the Goodland County Park beach project in his 2017 budget, eager to give residents and visitors a place to go when Wisconsin summers get hot and humid.

This new Clean Beach Corridor means when a family packs up to head out to the beach, they know when they get here theyll be able to swim and have fun, Parisi said.

At beaches without filtering systems, public health officials suggest tips to swim safely. Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) monitors public beaches, pools and splash pad between Memorial Day and Labor Day for bacteria and toxic blue-green algae.

People and dogs should avoid water where algal blooms are present and can cause stomach upset, rashes and respiratory problems.

Theres also a problem with animal and human waste getting into the waterways.

Once they arrive at a beach, we advise the public to always take a look at water conditions before getting into the water, especially after a heavy waterfall. Thats when stormwater runoff containing things like goose and pet waste can cause E. coli bacteria levels to be higher, says PHMDC microbiologist Jennifer Lavender-Braun.

Problems can also pop up at public pools where Lavender-Braun says it only takes one person with diarrheal illness to contaminate a whole pool, no matter how well maintained the pool is.

Residents can stay informed about beach and lake conditions in Monona, Madison, Middleton and McFarland area by signing up for Lake-O-Grams or visiting http://www.lakeforecast.org.

The Public Health Madison and Dane County website, http://www.publichealthmdc.com also has beach closures/conditions.

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Dane County commits to keeping beaches clean - hngnews.com