The most visible ocean pollution - trash that washes up onto beaches and poses a hazard to marine wildlife - is less likely to ruin a summer vacation by making beachgoers sick than invisible microbes from sewage overflows or farm waste.
Health Implications of Beach Pollution
It is hard to determine the number of gastroenteritis cases or other diseases caused by swimming in polluted water. There are many routes of exposure to most diseases and no U.S. national reporting system to help epidemiologists track national trends. However, the Centers for Disease Control estimate that illness from contaminated beach water is on the rise, with one study conducted by the agency revealing 10 percent of beachgoers getting sick after swimming at Great Lakes beaches.
Pollution at U.S. beaches exposes swimmers to a range of waterborne illnesses and may cause stomach flu, skin rashes, pinkeye, ear, nose and throat problems, dysentery, hepatitis, respiratory ailments, neurological disorders and other serious health problems.
Stormwater Runoff a Major Cause of Water Quality Problems at Beaches
Many U.S. cities, especially in the East and Pacific Northwest, are built on top of a combined sewer overflow systems. When it rains, runoff from roofs and roads mixes with household sewage and ends up a the local water treatment plant. During very heavy storms, the system is overwhelmed and rainwater and untreated sewage simply overflows into local waterways.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers animal waste and other agriculture pollution to be a major problem for river, and ultimately ocean, water quality. Poorly managed animal waste can contribute pathogens as well as excessive nutrient pollution to waterways. In many states, only the largest farms with multiple hundreds of animals are regulated by water pollution authorities. In many cases, it is left entirely up to the farmer to ensure that rainwater doesn't wash manure from cows, pigs, poultry or other animals downstream.
Annual Beach Closing and Advisory Report Illustrates Continued Pollution Problem
The Natural Resources Defense Council has issued a beach pollution report every summer for 19 years. They document that state and local officials found unsafe swimming conditions at beaches more than 20,000 times for four straight years from 2005-2008, with the highest reported advisory and beach closing days at 25,643 in 2006.
State and local officials reported water quality test results in violation of health standards – meaning testing revealed disease causing pathogens – 7 percent of the time in 2008. Beaches in the Great Lakes tested worst, violating standards 13 percent of the time in 2008 and consistently testing among the dirtiest beaches from 2005-2008. Beaches in the Southeast and Delmarva Peninusla reported the fewest percentage of unsafe water tests, with the relatively dry conditions in the Southeast likely a major factor in reduced pollution runoff.
Dirtiest Beaches: States with Highest Percentage of Water Samples Violating Health Standards in 2008
- Louisiana - 29 percent
- Ohio - 19 percent
- Indiana - 18 percent
- Illinois - 15 percent
Cleanest Beaches: States with Lowest Percentage of Water Samples Violating Health Standards in 2008
- Delaware - 1 percent
- New Hampshire - 1 percent
- Virginia - 1 percent
Improving U.S. Beach Water Quality and Reducing Dangerous Levels of Pollution
To reduce beach pollution, federal and state agencies should improve water quality monitoring and enforcement of water pollution laws. U.S. water infrastructure is chronically under funded, hampering efforts to reduce sewage overflow problems. The Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental groups are advocating for increased federal funding for local water projects and for allowing funding for water testing to also be used to trace sources of pollution, so state agencies can reduce, rather than simply monitor, beach pollution.
Environmental groups also warn that global warming, which will likely cause increase in heavy rains, will make water pollution problems worse. To protect swimmers, groups are calling for better notification of pollution problems at beaches.
Recommendations for Beachgoers and Concerned Citizens
Because rainwater carries so much pollution into coastal waters, waiting a day or two after heavy rains is a smart move for beach vacationers. Individuals can help reduce beach pollution by conserving water, designing landscaping that minimizes rainwater runoff, using natural fertilizers such as compost for gardens, maintaining septic systems, and properly disposing of animal waste, litter, toxic household products, and used motor oil. Citizens can also contact their elected officials to express their concerns about water pollution and encourage government action.
Jennifer Mueller - Jen is an advocacy communications and media relations professional with a deep understanding of environmental issues. She has ...
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