Check the water quality of your favorite beach and compare it to other beaches at the federal website at www.nrdc.org/beaches.  On the site you can pull up reports and advisories that have been issued.  According to the site, more than two-thirds of beach closings and advisories issued in 2011 were because of elevated bacterial levels that exceeded public health standards.  Also, last years figures confrm that our nation's beaches continue to experience a significant water pollution problem that puts swimmers and local economies at risk.  The site also has a section dedicated to beaches along the Great Lakes. 

Read more: http://www.indiana105.com/news/region-news/28386-water-quality-guide-for-beaches.html