(Ogunquit) Thousands of Americans will go to the beach for a last summer refreshment this weekend of the Labor Day. However, it might be out of the question to bathe: many beaches advise against swimming due to dangerous levels of fecal contamination.
From Crystal River, Florida, Ogunquit, Maine, alert notices concerning water quality were broadcast this week due to high levels of bacteria associated with fecal materials. These opinions generally discourage bathers from jumping in water, as these bacteria can cause gastrointestinal diseases, rashes and nausea.
Closures were observed this week in some of the most popular seaside destinations in the country, including Keyes Memorial Beach in the village of Barstable, in Massachusetts; Benjamin’s Beach on Long Island, Bay Shore, New York State; And part of the Imperial Beach coast near San Diego.
Even on the immaculate white sandy beaches of Hawaii, the Hawaii State Health Department warns against a high rate of bacteria at Kahalu’u Beach park, on the big island.
This is a widely used and long -standing problem. Almost two -thirds of the beaches tested nationally in 2024 experienced at least one day when the fecal contamination indicators have reached potentially dangerous levels, said the environmental protection association Environment America, in a report published this summer.
The organization examined the beaches of the coasts and the large lakes, and found that 84 % of the beaches of the Gulf coast exceeded the standard at least once. This figure was 79 % for the beaches of the west coast, 54 % for those of the East coast, as well as 71 % for those of the large lakes.
The report also indicates that more than 450 beaches were potentially dangerous for swimming at least 25 % of the days they were tested. One of the main reasons is the dilapidation of water and sewer networks, which allows contamination of wastewater to reach the bathing places, explained John Rumper, director of drinking water and main lawyer at Environment America.
“These beaches are a treasure for the families of New England and the whole country. They constitute a shared resource, ”said Rumper, located in Boston. “We have to invest to prevent our own human waste from ending in the areas we swim. »»
The impact of weather phenomena
Other factors have also contributed to the contamination of beaches, in particular the increasingly violent bad weather which overloads sewer networks, and urban sprawl which covers natural areas and reduces the capacity of the ecosystem to absorb rainwater, said Rumper.
However, many people plan to throw themselves into the water anyway. Despite a two -day alert concerning a high rate of fecal indicator bacteria last month in Rehoboth Beach, in Delaware, Yaromyr Oryshkevych, a bather, was not worried.
“I really do not expect any risk of faecal contamination,” said Mr. Orshkevych, retired dentist. He added that he did not think that Rehoboth was sufficiently close to notable pollution to be worried, and that he expected that natural marine currents solve any problem of contamination in the sector.
Environment America assessed the safety of the beaches in its report by checking whether the fecal bacteria levels exceeded the standards set by the United States environmental protection agency, which trigger an alert inviting to avoid swimming. At such concentrations, fecal bacteria can cause diseases in 32 bathers out of 1000.
In North Carolina, five beaches were under alert at the end of August due to high levels of fecal bacteria. The beaches are open, but bathers are warned that swimming can be risky, said Erin Bryan-Millush, head of the environmental program in the Department of Environmental Quality of North Carolina.
Hurricane Erin has caused significant erosion and storm waves in certain coastal areas, according to the environmental quality department. The heavy rains of this summer also aggravated the problem of contamination in certain areas, added Mme Bryan-Millush.
