Environmental Group Rates Beach Water Quality

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recently completed their annual survey in a report “Testing the Waters,” rating most of the nation’s beaches in cleanliness.

Overall, the number of beach closings in 2010 reached 24,091, the second highest level since NRDC began tracking data.

On the plus side, this means that the water at many beaches is being regularly tested and areas closed when bacterial levels get too high. On the negative side, it means that U.S. beaches continue to suffer from bacterial pollution, which can be hazardous for swimmers.

The report also took into account last year’s BP oil spill, which polluted a large area of the upper Gulf Coast. From the start of the spill to June 15, 2011 (“Testing the Waters” was released), there were a total of 9,474 days of beach closures and advisories due to the spill.

However, nearly 75 percent of beach closures in the United States were due to bacteria levels, not oil.

Most beach water pollution involves aged sewage systems and rainwater runoff. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently overhauled the Clean Water Act, and agreed to conduct new surveys, approve a water-testing method that yields same-day results, protect beach-goers from a wider range of waterborne illnesses, and update its beach-water quality standards by 2012.

Water testing today is a 24-hour process, and if there is a contaminant in the water the beach may not be closed until the following day. Some water related illnesses might include skin rashes, pinkeye, respiratory infections, meningitis, and hepatitis.

Additionally, the EPA’s Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) program helps coordinate with state and local authorities so water gets tested regularly. The BEACH program is also responsible for designing tests that yield faster results, and issuing grants to states that need funding to effectively and regularly test beach waters.

The NRDC’s standard for rating U.S. beaches includes a five star system which measures: water quality in 2010; water quality over the past three years; water quality testing frequency; whether the beach issues advisories promptly; and whether the beach posts closings and advisories.

The NRDC’s complete list rating the nation’s most popular beaches can be found on the NRDC website at www.nrdc.org.

The NRDC gave four U.S. beaches superstar status in regard to the above criteria, with perfect testing results for the past five years and a history of good water quality:

Delaware: Rehoboth Beach-Rehoboth Avenue Beach, Dewey Beach
Minnesota: Park Point Lafayette Community Club Beach
New Hampshire: Hampton Beach State Park

Beaches with a low star rating include:

Florida: Gulf Beaches of Tampa Bay
Maine: Old Orchard Beach, Ocean Park
Mississippi: Edgewater Beach
New Jersey: 9th Avalon Beach