No-Swim Days
Due to Sewage Doubled From Previous Year Nationwide, Says New Report
WASHINGTON (August 7, 2007) – Beach
closings and warnings due to pollution dropped in Michigan, according to the
17th annual beach water quality report released today by the Natural Resources
Defense Council (NRDC). Using data just collected from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, the report, “Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at
Vacation Beaches,” tallied 124 closing and health advisory days in 2006, a 47
percent decline from the year before.
Despite a decrease in beach closings
in Michigan, closings for the Great Lakes region increased by ten percent last year.
“Vacations are being ruined. Families can’t
use the beaches in their own communities because they are polluted. Kids are
getting sick -- all because of sewage and contaminated runoff from outdated,
under-funded treatment systems,” said Christy McGillivray, Senior Organizer for
Clean Water Action.
In Macomb County,
SCS Blossom Heath beach exceeded daily maximum bacterial standards 20 percent
of the time, an increase of seven percent from the previous year. New Baltimore Park
Beach also increased the
number of times they exceeded the daily maximum bacterial standards this year
by five percent. St. Clair Shores
Memorial Park Beach and Metropolitan Beach Metropark both made improvements
this year, the times that they exceeded the daily maximum bacterial standards
decreased by four and seven percent, respectively.
“It is great to see that some of our beaches
are improving, however, there are still problems and we need to keep a close
watch on this” said Sarah Roberts, Macomb County Commissioner and member of the
Macomb County Water Quality Board.
Nationwide,
sewage spills and overflows caused 1,301 beach closing and advisory days in
2006, an increase of 402 days from 2005. Elevated bacteria levels from
miscellaneous sources, such as boat discharges or wildlife, accounted for 410
closing and advisory days, an increase of 77 days from 2005. In addition, more
than 14,000 closing and advisory days were due to unknown sources of pollution.
In addition
to compiling data on 3,500 U.S.
beaches, the peer-reviewed report this year takes an especially close took at
the nation’s highest risk beaches – those that are either very popular, very
close to pollution sources, or both. Of those highest risk beaches, Rhode Island, Ohio, and Indiana ranked the worst
for failing to meet national health standards.
Aging and
poorly-designed sewage and storm water systems hold much of the blame for beach
water pollution. The problem was compounded by record rainfall, which added to
the strain on already overloaded infrastructure. The authors also say that careless urban
sprawl in coastal areas is devouring wetlands and other natural buffers such as
dunes and beach grass that would otherwise help filter out dangerous pollution.
“Beach
closures due to stormwater run-off are a big problem across the state of Michigan, as our green
spaces continue to decrease and stormwater run-off increases our beaches will
suffer” said Abby Rubley, Field Director for Environment Michigan.
“A summer
rainstorm should not have to mean that endless amounts of pollution are washed
down to the beach, or that sewers will overflow. We can fix leaky pipes; we can
require costal developers to maintain vegetation to absorb rain. The solutions
are out there,” said Nancy Stoner, director of NRDC’s Clean Water Project.
Not only
are the beaches polluted, the way they are tested is also failing the American
public, according to NRDC public health and water experts. The current beach
water quality standards are 20-years-old and rely on obsolete monitoring
methods and outdated science that leave beachgoers vulnerable to a range of
waterborne illnesses. Risks include gastroenteritis, dysentery, hepatitis,
respiratory ailments and other serious health problems. For senior citizens,
small children, and people with weak immune systems, the results can be fatal.
“What this
report means for families heading to the beach this weekend is that they need
to be careful. That means they need to do a little homework,” said Stoner.
“Call your local public health authority. Ask them if the beachwater is safe
for swimming. And if there is any doubt or if the water smells bad or looks
dirty, stay out of it.”
NRDC is
also offering beachgoers an opportunity to discuss their personal Beach Bums
and Beach Buddies. To post a comment,
visit NRDC's new Your Oceans website –www.youroceans.org, where you
also will find fun summer tips for having a safe and healthy time at the beach
this summer season.
About the 2007 Beach
Protection Act
In May, the
Beach Protection Act of 2007 (H.R. 2537/S. 1506) was introduced in the U.S.
Congress, reauthorizing the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health
Act (BEACH Act) of 2000. If passed, the Act will mandate the use of rapid
testing methods to detect beach water contamination in two hours or less so
that beachgoers can be notified of public health risks promptly. The Act will
also increase the amount of grant money available to states from $30 million to
$60 million annually through 2012, and expand the uses of grant funds to
include source tracking and pollution prevention.
# # #
The Natural
Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists,
lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and
the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online
activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco
and Beijing.
Environment
Michigan is a statewide membership-based environmental
advocacy organization working to protect Michigan’s
land, air and water.
Clean Water
Action is a national organization of diverse people and groups working together
to protect health, clean water, and to make democracy work. Clean Water Action in Michigan
has 200,000 members with offices in Clinton
Township, Grand
Rapids, Ann Arbor and East Lansing.
