Before You Go to the Beach...

Is the Water Safe for Swimming?

The water at the beach looks clean,but is it? It may be worth your while to find out before you or your children go swimming.Most water at beach- es is safe for swimming.However,you cannot be sure the beach water is safe unless it is tested because your beach water may contain disease-causing microorganisms that you cannot see.

Monitoring of beach water quality by local health and environmental officials is necessary to warn citizens when there is a problem.The United States Environmental Protection Agency's new BEACH Program (Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure,and Health Program) is designed to help your local government officials provide you with information necessary to protect your health.

How Does Beach Pollution Affect You and Your Family?

Water can be polluted by different things.Trash, such as picnic plates,plastic bags and bottles, and cigarette butts is easy to see.It is often the things we can't see,such as bacteria and other microorganisms,that we need to be more con- cerned about.If you or your family are exposed to these disease-causing organisms,they may make you sick.

Swimming or playing in unsafe water may result in minor illnesses such as sore throats or diarrhea.It also might result in more serious illnesses that may last longer than your vacation at the beach! Children,the elderly and people with weakened immune systems have a greater chance of getting sick when they come in contact with contaminated water.

Where Does This Pollution Come From?

The most frequent sources of disease-causing microorganisms are from sewage overflows, polluted storm water runoff,sewage treatment plant malfunctions,boating wastes and malfunctioning septic systems.

Pollution in beach water is often much higher during and immediately after rainstorms because water draining into the beach may be carrying sewage from over- flowing sewage treatment systems.Rainwater also flows to our beaches after running off lawns,farms, streets,construction sites,and other urban areas,pick- ing up animal waste,fertilizer,pesticides,trash and many other pollutants.Many of these pollutants can end up in the water at our beaches.

BEACH Program

The BEACH Program will help reduce health risks to you and your family by minimizing your exposure to disease-causing microorganisms in the water where you swim or play.The BEACH Program is ensuring public access to information about the quality of their beach water.In addition,EPA is working with state, tribal and local health and environmental officials to encourage use of faster tests to detect pollution as well as develop methods that will help predict when pollution may occur.With advance warning provided by the local authorities,you will be able to decide when and where to swim.

How Do I Get Information about My Beach?

State,tribal,and local health and environmental protection officials are responsible for monitoring the quality of water at our nation's beaches.When they find a beach is contaminated they may post warnings or close the beach.Your local public health or environmental office can tell you if and when the water atyour beach is monitored,who does it,and where the results are posted.Check with EPA's "Beach Watch"website at http://www.epa.gov/OST/beaches or contact your city,county or other local health officials listed in your local telephone book.