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The tranquility and fun where land meets water has been interrupted a total of more than 20,000 times for four years in a row, according to a report just released by National Resources Defense Council.
The NRDC’s 19th annual beachwater quality report says in the last year closing and advisory days were warranted as American beaches were seriously polluted with stormwater runoff, sewage, and human and animal waste, threatening the health of swimmers.
Pollution of water at beaches can lead to stomach flu, skin rashes, pinkeye, ear, nose and throat problems, dysentery, hepatitis, respiratory ailments and neurological disorders, NRDC warns.
NRDC’s report, Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches, used data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rank the country’s 200 most popular beaches based on water quality, how often beaches are monitored and notification provided to the public. The top-ranked beaches included Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach in California; Ocean City, Md.; Park Point – Community Club Beach in Duluth, Minn.; and Hampton Beach State Park in Hampton, N.H.
Beaches to watch out for are Zach’s Bay at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, N.Y.; Ocean Beach Park in New London, Conn.; Venice Public Beach in Florida and Central Beach in Point Pleasant, N.J. The report says the highest level of contamination was found in the Great Lakes, while the Southeast and Delmarva Peninsula are cleaner than other regions.
Effects Of Climate Change
For the first time, NRDC looked at how climate change impacts beachwater quality. Not surprisingly, the study found that climate warming will worsen pollution due to increases in storms, rain and runoff, which carry pollution to waterways.
An alarming conclusion of the report is that global warming increases the risk of pathogens present in beachwater, leading to flu, diarrhea and neurological problems.
