A program that monitored water quality at the Menominee Park beach this summer will continue next year after city officials determined it provided peace of mind to people who wanted to know the beach was a healthy swimming environment.

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh graduate students tested the water at the beach during the course of the summer to find out if there were any contaminants in the water that could result in unsafe swimming conditions.

The testing monitored the water for levels of E. coli, which is contained in fecal matter and can be transmitted through water. Swimming in water with high levels of E. coli could cause minor skin rashes, sore throats, diarrhea or more serious problems.

Water samples generally did not reveal alarming levels of E. coli in the water; however, the beach was closed one day due to high levels of E. coli, said Greg Kleinheinz, a UWO microbiology professor.

"Things were pretty good," Kleinheinz said. "We didn't really see anything that was atypical or of immediate concern."

In prior years, the city treated the beach as a swim at your own risk area. Now, with the monitoring program, signs will be posted informing the public if E. coli levels exceed guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Oshkosh City Manager Mark Rohloff said he thinks the water testing program provided peace of mind to the public who wanted to use the beach.

The testing will continue in 2010 and the council has agreed to pay the $250 fee UWO needs to charge to continue monitoring the water quality.

"Even though it didn't turn up anything, that's what you want," Rohloff said. "They do need to charge a nominal fee, but that's a value in terms of giving the public some certainty about the quality of their beach water."

Jennifer K. Woldt: (920) 426-6676 or jwoldt@thenorthwestern.com.