Millions of Americans are expected to flock to the beach this Labor Day weekend. But experts are urging caution when it comes to getting in the water.
“Nobody wants to be swimming in poopy water,” John Rumpler, clean water director at Environment America, told The Associated Press.
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From Cape Cod to San Diego
From Cape Cod and Long Island to San Diego and Hawaii’s Big Island, several popular beaches have faced closures due to water contamination.
“We looked at all of the data from testing coastal beaches across New England, and in fact, the rest of the coastal United States and even Great Lakes beaches, where they tested for this fecal indicator bacteria,” Rumpler said.
Environment America recently released a report reviewing water quality at beaches along the coasts and the Great Lakes. The findings show that 84% of Gulf Coast beaches exceeded safe contamination levels at least once last year. On the West Coast, it was 79%. For the East Coast, 54%, and for Great Lakes beaches, 71%.
‘I have no concerns’
Despite the data, many beachgoers aren’t changing their plans.
“I assume the local authorities will tell us if they’re higher levels than normal, like I’ve seen on the news in some places, if there’s a danger in the water,” said Dana West, who was visiting the beach. “But generally, I have no concerns about the level of fecal and bacterial matter.”
Another beachgoer, Yaromyr Oryshkevych, echoed that sentiment. “I’m not greatly concerned about bacterial levels because the ocean, by its nature, is pretty –– I’m not gonna say sterile, but it’s clean,” Oryshkevych said, adding, “I really do not expect to get an infection from the ocean.”
Experts said outdated water and sewer systems, combined with heavy rains and severe weather, can cause sewage overflows that reach popular swimming spots.
“The best advice: if there’s an advisory, you may want to enjoy that holiday weekend on the beach and stay out of the water,” Rumpler said. “We’re talking about nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, skin rashes, ear infections, and the like… hardly anybody’s idea of how to end their summer on Labor Day weekend.”
