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 593 closings and health advisory days in Hawaii in 2006, a slight increase from 586 from the year before.

“Vacations are being ruined. Families can’t use the beaches in their own communities because they are polluted. Kids are getting sick. All of this is because of sewage and contaminated runoff from outdated, under-funded treatment systems,” said Hawaii Field Organizer Moira Chapin.

NRDC named Dr. Carl Berg from Kauai a true “Beach Hero” for his outstanding efforts and leadership in combating beachwater contamination and improving beachwater monitoring in Kauai. Through numerous water quality initiatives that focus on pollution source reduction and groundwater, aquatic habitat and resource protection, Dr. Berg continues to make Hawaii’s beaches safer for beachgoers and wildlife.

The water at American beaches was unsafe for swimming a record number of days last year, according to the report. Nationally, the number of closing and health advisory days at ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches topped 25,000 in 2006. The number of no-swim days caused by stormwater doubled from the year before.

In addition to compiling data on 3,500 U.S. beaches, the peer-reviewed report this year takes an especially close look 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, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Minnesota ranked the worst for failing to meet national health standards. This new area of focus is the result of a peer review process NRDC undertook with five professionals from local and state health agencies, academia, and the research community. In Hawaii, high risk beaches failed to meet national health standards 3 percent of the time.

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.

“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 coastal developers to plant trees and grass to absorb rain. The solutions are out there,” said Nancy Stoner, director of NRDC’s Clean Water Project.

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.

Not only are our beaches polluted, but the way they are tested is also failing the American public. 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. Health 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.

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.

“We urge Representatives Hirono and Abercrombie to support the Beach Protection Act and ensure America’s beaches are tested for pollution in time to protect public health,” said Chapin.

Beach Buddies and Beach Bums

Based on the report’s findings, NRDC announced the best and worst beaches for protecting beachgoers from contaminated water. This year there are thirteen Beach Buddies, six Beach Bums, and for the first time, a Beach Hero.

Beach Buddies: Monitored beach water quality regularly, violated public health standards less than 10 percent of the time, and took significant steps to reduce pollution:

• North Carolina: Kure Beach and Kill Devil Hills beach

• Wisconsin: Sister Bay Beach and North Beach

• California: Laguna Beach

• Michigan: Grand Haven City Beach and Grand Haven State Park beaches

• Maine: Libby Cove, Mother’s, Middle, Cape Neddick, Short Sands and York Harbor beaches

For the first time this year NRDC is recognizing an individual as a Beach Hero. Dr. Carl Berg of Hawaii, a marine ecologist and long-time water quality champion, was nominated as a Beach Buddy by the staff of the Hawaii Department of Health for his work with the Hanalei Heritage River organization and the Hanalei Watershed Hui.

Dr. Berg worked to set up monitoring programs for the beaches, rivers and streams of Hanalei Bay and to protect them by replacing cesspools on beach parks and on private land along the river, working with farmers to reduce sediment discharge, and developing best practices to protect the upper watershed.

Beach Bums: Violated public health standards 51 percent or more of the time samples were taken:

• California: Avalon Beach (north of Green Pier) (53 percent) and Venice State Beach (57 percent)

• Maryland: Hacks Point (60 percent) and Bay Country Campground and Beach (56 percent)

• New Jersey: Beachwood Beach West (60 percent)

• Illinois: Jackson Park Beach (54 percent)

U.S. PIRG is a nationwide environmental and consumer protection advocacy group. For more information, please visit http:///www.uspirg.org The full report is at http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/titinx.asp 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 Web site – http://www.youroceans.org - where you also will find fun summer tips for having a safe and healthy time at the beach this summer season.

HawaiiReporter.com reports the real news, and prints all editorials submitted, even if they do not represent the viewpoint of the editors, as long as they are written clearly. Send editorials to mailto:Malia@HawaiiReporter.com

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