Beach Closing Days Nationwide Top 20,000 for Fourth Consecutive Year

Michigan Ranked 17th in the Nation for Beachwater Quality,and Analysis Reveals Climate Change to Make Pollution Worse

Lansing, MI – The water at American beaches was seriously polluted and jeopardized the health of swimmers last year with the number of closing and advisory days at ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches reaching more than 20,000 for the fourth consecutive year, according to the 19th annual beachwater quality report released today by Clean Water Action and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

“When families head to the beach this summer, they shouldn’t have to worry about swimming in human and animal waste that can make them sick,” said Christy McGillivray, Michigan Campaigns Director for Clean Water Action.

Using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NRDC’s report - Testing the Waters - A guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches (pdf) - confirms that our nation’s beachwaters continue to suffer from serious contamination – including human and animal waste – that can make people sick.

NRDC’s report also provides a 5-star rating guide for 200 of the nation’s most popular beaches, based on indicators of beachwater quality, monitoring frequency, and public notification of contamination. Neither the top beaches, those receiving all five stars, nor the worst beaches, those receiving one star or none, were located in Michigan.  

North Beach Park in Ottawa County ranked highest in Michigan with a 4-star rating, while Grand Traverse County’s Clinch Park received only two stars.

Additionally in 2008, 5 percent of all reported beach monitoring samples exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards. The beaches exceeding standards by the greatest amount include: Crescent Sail Yacht Club in Wayne County (45%), Singing Bridge Beach in Arenac County (30%), St. Clair Shores Memorial Park Beach in Macomb County (26%), Pier Park in Wayne County (20%), Silver Creek Channel (20%), Lighthouse Beach At Silver Lake State Park in Oceana County (19%), and Caseville County Park (17%).

While the report found a 10 percent decrease in closing and advisory days at beaches nationwide from 2007, it reveals this drop was the result of dry conditions in many parts of the country and decreased funding for water monitoring in some states last year, rather than a sign of large-scale improvement.

The decline follows two years of record-high closing and advisory days and the primary pollution source, stormwater runoff after heavy rains, continues to be a serious problem that has not been addressed.

“When the rains return,” said Nancy Stoner, NRDC Water Program Co-Director, “so will pollution, forcing beaches to issue more closings and advisory days.”

Nationally, 7 percent of beachwater samples violated health standards – indicating the presence of human or animal waste – showing no improvement from 2007 or 2006. In Michigan, the percentage of health standard exceedances increased to 5 percent in 2008 from from 4 percent in 2006 and 2007 and 3 percent in 2005.

In Michigan, “Testing the Waters” shows that the number of closing and advisory days increased 34% to 265 days in 2008 from 198 days in 2007.

Christy McGillivray stated that data shows that the pollution fouling our beaches comes from sewers, septic systems, agricultural sources, and stormwater runoff from roads and buildings. “These problems are preventable,” McGillivray said. “Swimming at Michigan beaches would be a lot safer if more municipalities used soil and vegetation to capture and filter stormwater at its source and prioritized upgrading aging sewer systems.”

For the first time, the Testing the Waters report this year explores the effects of climate change on beachwater quality, revealing that climate change is expected to make pollution worse. The combined effects of temperature increases, and more frequent and intense rainstorms, will lead to increased stormwater runoff, sewer pollution and disease-causing pathogens in nearby waterways. Specifically, climate change is anticipated to influence the presence of pathogens that cause stomach flu, diarrhea and neurological problems.

Beachwater pollution makes swimmers vulnerable to a range of waterborne illnesses including stomach flu, skin rashes, pinkeye, ear, nose and throat problems, dysentery, hepatitis, respiratory ailments, neurological disorders and other serious health problems. For senior citizens, small children, and people with weak immune systems, the results can be fatal.

“Pollution from dirty stormwater runoff and sewage overflows continues to make its way to our beaches. This not only makes swimmers sick – it hurts coastal economies,” said Nancy Stoner. “Americans should not suffer the consequences of contaminated beachwater. From contracting the flu or pink eye, to jeopardizing millions of jobs and billions of dollars that rely on clean coasts, there are serious consequences to inaction.”

The best way to protect swimmers from beachwater pollution is to prevent it.

Federal, state and local governments can make this a priority by requiring better controls on stormwater and sewage, the two largest known sources of beachwater pollution. A key solution is to utilize low impact development techniques in communities to retain and filter rainwater where it falls, letting it soak back into the ground rather than running off into waterways. This includes strategically placed rain gardens in yards, tree boxes on city sidewalks, green roofs that use absorbent vegetation on top of buildings, and permeable pavement that allows water to penetrate the material, instead of asphalt or concrete.

The Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act pending in Congress would provide money for more beachwater sampling and require use of faster testing methods so people get timely information about whether it is safe to swim. Additionally, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) that recently passed the House of Representatives will help communities prepare for further impacts of climate change on coastal communities such as flooding, sea level rise, increased stormwater pollution and sewer overflows, in addition to capping global warming pollution.

Michigan Clean Water Action has released the Testing the Waters report consistently since 2000.  Contact us for greater detail on Michigan's beaches and water quality issues.

Clean Water Action—a grassroots citizens’ organization with over 235,000 Michigan members working locally, statewide, and nationally to protect our environment, health, economic well-being and community quality of life. www.cleanwateraction.org/mi

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.