Each week, the Kosciusko County Health Department tests the waters of local beaches to determine if they are safe for swimmers. Although most of Indiana is in a severe drought, the lack of rain is actually keeping the bacteria levels in the local waters down.

Health department engineer Bob Weaver told StaceyPageOnline.com that the lack of rain is actually beneficial to swimmers because there is no run off from roads and fields that can contaminate the lakes.

The seven public beaches that are tested weekly include Winona Lake Beach, Center Lake Beach, Pike Lake Beach, North Webster Beach, Syracuse Lake Beach, Hoy’s Beach and Waubee Lake Beach.

All waters are tested first thing Monday morning. If a high bacteria level is recorded, the water is retested daily as needed. So far this summer, only Center Lake Beach was closed one day due to a high reading.