Beach Closing Days in California Reached Over 4,100 in 2008 Unknown sources of contamination is the single greatest source of pollution in California beaches; analysis reveals climate change will make water pollution worse Published on Jul 29, 2009 - 8:23:53 AM
San Francisco, CA July 29, 2009 - The water at California beaches was seriously polluted and jeopardized the health of swimmers last year with the number of closing and advisory days at ocean and bay beaches reaching more than 4,100 in 2008, according to the 19th annual beachwater quality report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
"Pollution from dirty stormwater runoff and sewage overflows continues to make its way to our beaches," said Leila Monroe, Oceans Policy Analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Americans should not suffer the consequences of contaminated beachwater. From contracting the flu or pink eye, to jeopardizing millions of jobs and billions of dollars that rely on clean coasts, there are serious costs to inaction."
Using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NRDC's report - Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches - confirms that California beachwaters continue to suffer from serious contamination - including human and animal waste - that can make people sick.
NRDC's report also provides a 5-star rating guide for 200 of the nation's most popular beaches, based on indicators of beachwater quality, monitoring frequency, and public notification of contamination. Five-star beaches in California include Laguna Beach-Main Beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. Some of San Francisco most popular beaches, Baker Beach and Ocean Beach, fared relatively moderate, receiving 2 and 3 star ratings.
While the report found a 13 percent decrease in closing and advisory days at California beaches from 2007, it reveals this drop may have been largely due to the drought in the state and less-vigilant monitoring due to recent budget cuts, rather than a sign of large-scale improvement.
"It is vital that we protect California's coastal and ocean resources from pollution," said Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma, 12th Assembly District. "More than 450 million tourists and residents go to the beach every year, many of them to swim, wade, surf and dive - and they should be safe from beachwater pollution." (pending approval)
For the first time, the Testing the Waters report this year explores the effects of climate change on beachwater quality, revealing that climate change is expected to make pollution worse. The combined effects of temperature increases, and more frequent and intense rainstorms, will lead to increased stormwater runoff, sewer pollution and disease-causing pathogens in nearby waterways. Specifically, climate change is anticipated to influence the presence of pathogens that cause stomach flu, diarrhea and neurological problems in America's beachwater.
In California, the percent of beachwater samples that violated health standards - indicating the presence of human or animal waste - increased to 10 percent in 2008 from 7 percent in 2007. Sewage spills and stormwater runoff are the major known sources of pollution in California beachwaters.
Los Angeles County had the highest percent exceedance rate in 2008 (20 percent) followed by San Francisco (13 percent), Contra Costa (12 percent), Alameda (9 percent), Orange (9 percent), Santa Barbara (9 percent), Sonoma (7 percent), San Luis Obispo (6 percent), San Mateo (6 percent), Santa Cruz (6 percent), Humboldt (6 percent), San Diego (6 percent), Monterey (4 percent), Ventura (4 percent), Marin (2 percent), and Mendocino (1 percent).
Beachwater pollution makes swimmers vulnerable to a range of waterborne illnesses including stomach flu, skin rashes, pinkeye, ear, nose and throat problems, dysentery, hepatitis, respiratory ailments, neurological disorders and other serious health problems. For senior citizens, small children and people with weak immune systems, the results can be fatal.
The best way to protect swimmers from beachwater pollution is to prevent it. Federal, state and local governments can make this a priority by requiring better controls on stormwater and sewage, the two largest known sources of beachwater pollution. A key solution is to utilize low impact development techniques in communities to retain and filter rainwater where it falls, letting it soak back into the ground rather than running off into waterways. This includes strategically placed rain gardens in yards, tree boxes on city sidewalks, green roofs that use absorbent vegetation on top of buildings, and permeable pavement that allows water to penetrate the material, instead of asphalt or concrete.
The Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act pending in Congress would provide money for more beachwater sampling and require use of faster testing methods so people get timely information about whether it is safe to swim. Additionally, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) that recently passed the House of Representatives will help communities prepare for further impacts of climate change on coastal communities such as flooding, sea level rise, increased stormwater pollution and sewer overflows, in addition to capping global warming pollution.
