Water Quality
Lake Michigan and the Root River are important natural resources
for the City of Racine. They supply water for drinking, farming, industry, and recreation,
and provide habitat for many plant and animal species. Water quality can affect
how residents and visitors feel about the City. Clean water attracts businesses
and tourists, and increases the quality of life for Racine’s citizens. This section
contains information on Racine’s water quality.
Beaches
Source: City of Racine Public Health Department Laboratory
North and Zoo
Beach are the two monitored beaches in the City of Racine. The water quality is affected by many factors, including rainfall and high waves. There was a decrease in the number of closings and advisories during the 2017 season, allowing for more days of recreation for beach visitors. There was an increase in advisories and closures during 2020, possibly due to a higher number of rain events.
.jpg "Water Quality - Average Number of Beach Visitors")
Source: City of Racine Public Health Department Laboratory
July and August are traditionally the busiest months of the
beach season. During 2021 numbers were lower than in the past overall most likely due to the pandemic and less people visiting busy places.
Drinking Water
In 2011, the City of Racine was presented with the Best Tasting Tap Water in
America award at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. For more information about Racine's drinking water:
City of Racine Water Utility
2021 Water Quality Report
Root River
Source: City of Racine Public Health Department Laboratory
The Root River weaves through
the City of Racine and has five sites that are often used for recreation purposes. These sites have water samples taken weekly to assess quality and safety. Many factors can contribute to elevated E. coli levels and affect the quality of water, including runoff from rain events and snow melt. Steelhead facility experienced the largest number of elevated E. coli levels of the five sampling sites.