Why did EPA establish the BEACH
Program?
EPA initiated the Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure,
and Health (BEACH) Program in response to the growing concern
about public health risks posed by polluted bathing beaches. Scientific
evidence documenting the rise of infectious diseases caused by
microbial organisms in recreational waters continues to grow.
For example, a recent epidemiological study in Santa Monica Bay,
Califormia, documented an increased risk of illness associated
with swimming near storm drains. The number of beach closures
reported every year is also on the rise. To counteract this growing
problem and to ensure public notification when they may be at
risk of illness and disease, we have established this national
program to protect public health at our nation's beaches.
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What are the major components of the BEACH Program?
The BEACH Program will focus on the following five areas to meet
the program goals of improving public health and environmental
protection programs for beach goers and providing the public with
information about the quality of their beach water:
Strengthening beach standards and testing. EPA
is encouraging states and tribes to adopt updated water quality
criteria for E. coli and/or enterococcus bacteria into
their water quality standards. The Agency is also working with
states, tribes, and local governments to strengthen local beach
health monitoring efforts and procedures to achieve these standards
by providing technical guidance and training on new test methods
and predictive models. You may view EPA's
summary report of state bacterial water quality standards
for recreational waters.
Providing faster laboratory test methods. EPA has
developed and is making available a new laboratory test method
for enterococcus bacteria, indicator organisms for fecal contamination.
This improved test method produces results in 24 hours rather
than the 48 hours required for existing test methods. EPA will
provide technical assistance to state and private laboratories
to implement this new method. Use of this method can result in
earlier notification to the public about health hazards at beaches.
Predicting pollution. EPA is working with other
agencies at all levels of government to develop and validate models
to predict where and when beach pollution is likely to occur.
These models will assist public health officials in determining
when warnings may be necessary to alert beach goers of potential
problems during and immediately following a rain storm or other
pollution event. EPA will provide copies of the models and training
in their use when they become available.
Investing in health and methods research. EPA plans
to sponsor research to improve the scientific foundation in support
of local, state, and tribal actions to protect public health at
bathing beaches. Discussions are underway to identify critical
areas of research that will likely include development and validation
of new methods and indicators to assess waterborne pathogens.
Informing the public. The BEACH Program is improving
public access to information about the quality of the water at
their beaches and health risks associated with swimming in polluted
water. EPA has created a new website on the Internet, called "Beach
Watch," which is an online directory of information about the
water quality at our nation's beaches, local protection programs,
and other beach-related programs. The "Beach Watch" website will
be updated as new information becomes available; the Internet
address is http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/.
A BEACH Program document and brochure are also available on the
Internet or for free distribution to the public through EPA's
National Center for Environmental Publications and Information,
11029 Kenwood Road, Building 5, Cincinnati, OH 45242.
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What else is EPA doing to make our beaches safer?
In addition to the activities underway or planned for the BEACH
Program, EPA is involved in a number of activities with other programs
to make our waters cleaner and safer for swimming. For example:
- We continue to work with communities to help build and properly
operate their sewage treatment plants. Between 1972 and 1996,
EPA awarded approximately $70 billion to municipalities to assist
in the construction and improvement of wastewater treatment
plants. Today, sophisticated sewage systems serve over 85% of
the U.S. population.
- We are working to end sewage overflows in communities with
outdated sewer systems. In 1994 we successfully negotiated a
national policy for managing combined sewer overflows (CSOs)
that helps communities eliminate or minimize the discharge of
untreated or partially treated sewage in practical, cost-effective
ways. We also convened a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) Federal
Advisory Subcommittee that considers SSO policy issues and provides
recommendations for regulatory and nonregulatory actions to
reduce SSOs nationally. .
- We are continuing to implement a national storm water program
to reduce urban runoff. Runoff from urban areas can carry a
variety of pollutants, including bacteria and viruses. Cities
and industries are now required to control storm water runoff
so that local waters receive greater protection from pollution.
- The 1990 amendments to the Coastal Zone Management Act focused
on the need for controlling polluted runoff in coastal areas
and provided stronger approaches to meet this need. We continue
to help the States implement these approaches and achieve more
effective runoff control.
- We also work with the Coast Guard to improve sewage and other
waste disposal from recreational boats and other vessels.
Each of these actions are focused on preventing the pollution
that can make our waters unsafe. Preventing pollution has been
and will continue to be our top priority in ensuring safe waters
for swimming and other recreational activities.
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What is EPA's role in setting bacteriological water quality
standards for swimming safety?
Section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) provides the statutory
basis for water quality standards. It is primarily a state program
subject to EPA oversight to maintain compliance with CWA requirements.
EPA's regulations implementing this section require states to adopt
sufficient criteria and monitoring in their standards to protect
designated uses.
EPA has developed ambient water quality criteria for bacteria
for use by the states and tribes in establishing standards for
recreational waters. These criteria were last updated in 1986.
To date, only about 20% of the states have updated their standards
based on these revisions.
EPA is actively promoting its goal of ensuring that all states
and tribes update their bathing beach standards. In a recent letter
to the states and tribes, EPA strongly encouraged them to adopt
the updated E. coli/enterococcus standards. We are also
coordinating with our regional offices to direct attention to
this issue during the triennial review process for water quality
standards.
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Contact EPA if you would like to ask
a question.
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