As beach-goers race to cool down in the upcoming heat, some may want to be more cautious about where they dip their toes.
A report released Wednesday by the National Resources Defense Council shows two Illinois beaches violated public health standards more than 25 percent of the time between 2007 and 2011, putting it on a list of the 15 most polluted beaches in the nation.
Winnetka's Elder Park Beach, a repeat offender on the list, has exceptionally high bacteria counts, according to the report, and ranked second-to-worst in the country. The NRDC said the beach needs daily monitoring of bacteria to determine if and when closures are necessary.
North Point Marina Beach in Lake County ranked higher at tenth worst but also is a repeat offender. Water samples must be monitored four times each week to determine closures for this beach.
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Illinois ranks in the bottom three for the percentage of beach-water samples exceeding national standards, only ranking above Ohio and Louisiana.
