By Jan Axelson
Northside News

Thanks to a partnership between the City of Madison and Dane County, the beach at Warner Park has a new swim area with clean, filtered water obtained without using chemicals

A floating plastic curtain walls off the half-acre swim area. Water is pumped at 100 gallons per minute from the swim area to a filtration system where a strainer, sand filter and ultraviolet light remove algae and bacteria. The filtered water is then pumped back into the swim area. Solar panels help provide electricity for the system.

To experience the water for myself, I visited Warner Beach and went for a swim. Other than small amounts of floating aquatic plants near the shore, the water was free of plant matter and algae and offered a pleasant way to cool off on a hot day.

Warner beach, 1101 Woodward Drive, doesn’t have a lifeguard this summer due to difficulty in finding lifeguards to hire. City staff rake and clean the beaches multiple times per week. The restrooms are open. Dogs are not allowed in the beach area.

To see current conditions for Warner Beach, Maple Bluff Beach and other local beaches, visit publichealthmdc.com and select Beach Updates.