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Beachgoers Beware: Fecal Contamination Prompts Swimming Advisories Nationwide
Labor Day weekend is traditionally a time for one last summer hurrah at the beach, but this year, visitors should be cautious before taking a dip. Across the country, beaches are issuing advisories due to unsafe levels of fecal contamination in the water.
From the East Coast to the West Coast, and even in Hawaii, popular beaches are experiencing elevated levels of bacteria associated with fecal waste. Affected areas include Keyes Memorial Beach in Hyannis, Massachusetts, Benjamin’s Beach in Bay Shore, New York, a portion of Imperial Beach near San Diego, and Kahaluu Beach Park in Hawaii. These advisories warn against swimming due to the risk of gastrointestinal illness, rashes, and nausea.
This isn’t a new problem. A recent report by Environment America found that nearly two-thirds of beaches tested nationwide had at least one day this year with potentially unsafe levels of fecal contamination.
The Gulf Coast was particularly affected, with 84% of beaches exceeding the safety standard at least once. The West Coast followed at 79%, the Great Lakes at 71%, and the East Coast at 54%.
The report highlighted over 450 beaches that were deemed potentially unsafe for at least a quarter of the days they were tested.
Outdated water and sewer systems are a major contributor to the problem, allowing sewage to contaminate swimming areas, according to John Rumpler, clean water director for Environment America. He stressed the importance of investing in infrastructure to protect these valuable resources. Other contributing factors include increasingly severe weather overwhelming sewage systems and suburban sprawl reducing the environment’s ability to absorb stormwater.
Despite the warnings, some beachgoers remain undeterred. At Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, which experienced a contamination warning last month, some visitors expressed little concern, citing the ocean’s natural currents and downplaying the risk. However, several beaches near Rehoboth, including Rehoboth Bay and Dewey Beach bayside, are currently under advisory.
These advisories are based on EPA standards, which trigger alerts when fecal bacteria levels reach a point where 32 out of every 1,000 swimmers are at risk of illness. In North Carolina, five beaches are currently under advisory, with officials noting that recent heavy rains and Hurricane Erin exacerbated existing contamination issues. The public is urged to heed these advisories, especially those with compromised immune systems.