Clean Water News

COLUMBUS—Beach closings due to hazardous bacterial contamination are on the rise at Ohio beaches, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council's annual report released today by Environment Ohio and The Ohio Environmental Council.

The report, "Testing the Waters 2005: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches," tallied 271 closing and health advisory days in Ohio in 2004, a 7 percent jump from the 255 the previous year. All of last year's closing days were prompted by unsafe levels of bacteria in the water, indicating the presence of human or animal waste.

One of the primary sources of bacterial contamination is sewer overflows, the result of outdated sewage systems that can't handle increasing flow. The bacteria can cause a wide range of illnesses, including gastroenteritis; dysentery; hepatitis; ear, nose and throat problems; and respiratory ailments.

"Contamination of Lake Erie from sewage is a health risk and an economic risk. State officials should address this through stronger reporting requirements about sewage spills, mandatory beach water testing and immediate public notification of local water contamination," stated Erin Bowser, Ohio PIRG Director.

Especially problematic in Ohio is that, except for beaches funded through the BEACH Act, Ohio doesn't have a beach monitoring requirement. Even when beaches are monitored, the state has no legal authority to issue an advisory or close a beach. "Without statewide requirements for monitoring and public notification, Ohioans can't be sure that they're safe when they visit Lake Erie beaches," said Bowser.

During the report's assessment period from 1998 to 2003, 20 Lake Erie shoreline beaches exceeded E. coli concentrations for 16 percent of the days during the lake's recreation season. Eight of the beaches exceeded criteria for primary-contact recreation, such as swimming, 23% of the time.

Polluted water at our beaches not only poses a threat to public health, it hurts Ohio's businesses. Lake Erie tourism generated $7 billion and over 130,000 jobs in 2003, according to the Lake County Business Journal. But Ohio "beachanomics" would be even more robust if communities were not forced to close their beaches because of pollution. According to new Ohio Sea Grant research reports, an average of $100,000 in visitor spending is lost per beach for each Lake Erie beach advisory.

Nationally, the report found nearly 20,000 closing and advisory days at America's beaches in 2004. That's the most since NRDC began tracking the problem 15 years ago. One reason, the group says, is that improved monitoring spurred by previous reports is now uncovering the true extent of the pollution problem. The number of beach closings and advisory days nationwide jumped 9 percent, from 18,224 days in 2003 to 19,950 days in 2004.

"This is a nationwide problem that demands a nationwide solution," said Nancy Stoner, director of NRDC's Clean Water Project. "We need more federal help for local communities to control runoff and update their aging sewage systems, and we need stronger enforcement standards for those who aren't doing their share."

The report, "Testing the Waters," which covers ocean, coastal bay and Great Lakes beaches, is available on line at www.nrdc.org.

'Testing the Waters 2005' Recommendations
The report calls on Congress to reauthorize and fully fund the BEACH Act, and urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to tighten controls on sewer overflows and stormwater discharges, ensure that states and localities monitor water quality and notify the public when it does not meet bacterial standards, and set standards to protect the public from waterborne pathogens.

At the state and local level, 'Testing the Waters 2005' recommends that governments adopt rigorous monitoring and beach closure programs, identify pollution sources, and get to work cleaning them up. In addition, authorities should issue mandatory advisories when heavy rainfall causes bacteria levels to jump, and when sewer overflows or other similar problems jeopardize beachwater safety.

Citizens also can do things to improve beachwater quality, including supporting legislation and funding to keep beachwater clean, fix aging sewer systems, and protect wetlands and coastal vegetation.