Water, water, everywhere, but what is safe for swimming?
Did you know?
* The largest source of beach pollution is contamination from stormwater, which caused more than 10,000 ocean, bay and Great Lakes beach closings and water-quality advisory days last year.
* Nationally, 7 percent of beach water samples violated federal health standards in 2007. Washington fared better, averaging 4 percent, while Oregon did worse at 10 percent.
* Illinois beach water samples had the highest rate of health-standard violations in 2007, followed by Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana and Louisiana. Alaska had the lowest rate of violations. Other states with low violation rates were New Hampshire, Delaware, Virginia and North Carolina.
Source: Natural Resources Defense Council.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
By Mary Ann Albright, Columbian Staff Writer
As temperatures rise, so too do water quality concerns. It’s tempting to head to the lake, pond or beach for a dip, but there are some risks to consider.
Bacteria and waste found in untreated water can cause stomach flu-type symptoms, rashes, pink eye, earaches, respiratory problems, meningitis, hepatitis and other ailments particularly dangerous for children, elderly people, cancer patients, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems, said Nancy Stoner, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Clean Water Project.
The safest places to swim are bodies of water that are sampled at least weekly, and that have an established record of complying with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards at least 95 percent of the time, according to the Natural Resources Defence Council. When bacteria levels exceed federal safety guidelines, advisories or closures should be issued immediately.
Based on these and other related criteria, the Natural Resources Defense Council recently rated 100 of the nation’s most popular beaches, lakes and bays as part of its 18th annual report, “Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches.” Beaches received one star for each of five quality controls in place.
Nationally, 7 percent of beach water samples violated EPA standards last year. Washington coastal beaches fared better, averaging 4 percent. Still, none of the three Washington beaches included in the report met more than two of the five quality standards. The same was true for the two Oregon beaches listed.
Golden Gardens in King County received one star for good water quality. The same went for Oregon’s Cannon Beach. Alki Beach Park in King County and Seaside, Ore., each received two stars for meeting EPA standards three years in a row. Baileys Harbor Ridges County Park in Door County received two stars, one for being monitored more than once a week and another for prompt closures and advisories when needed.
The report only looked at coastal waters, and did not include any Clark County sites. However, local agencies monitor Vancouver Lake and Klineline Pond during the summer. Vancouver Lake is closely watched because it has historically had high levels of cyanobacteria, said Tom Gonzales, Clark County program manager for environmental public health.
It is tested for cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, and E. coli every other Monday by the county. Cyanobacteria produces toxins that can cause respiratory illness, rashes and, in extreme cases, kidney and liver damage or death. Cyanobacteria levels exceeding 100,000 cells per 100 milliliters are considered unsafe, a threshold set by the World Health Organization.
E. coli is an indicator bacteria signifying the presence of human or animal waste, which can cause gastrointestinal problems if swallowed while swimming.
The lake is closed when samples exceed 236 colonies of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water, a standard set by the EPA. The county posts signs and issues media advisories to inform the public of closures. Clark County Public Health also provides water-quality information on its Web site.
The lake hasn’t been deemed unsafe so far this year, but it was closed last August when blue-green algae levels spiked. The county plans to start testing weekly through the end of the month, since the bacteria are photosynthetic and reproduce more rapidly in sunny, hot weather, Gonzales said.
Klineline Pond is monitored because it’s a high-use area, said Vancouver aquatics coordinator James Fields.
Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department tests Klineline Pond weekly for E. coli. All samples taken this summer have been well within acceptable levels, Fields said. The pond was closed once last summer.
Battle Ground Lake is tested only when there is evidence of a problem because its depth makes it less susceptible to water-quality issues.
Though the county is prompt in posting warnings, there is a lag between when a problem can develop and when it can be detected.
Water-quality tests are culture-based and results typically take at least 24 to 48 hours. During that time, people could be swimming in polluted water. The Natural Resources Defense Council is pushing for rapid testing, which would allow for same-day results.
Meanwhile, it’s important for people to take precautions before diving into untreated water, said Stoner, who’s based in Washington, D.C. Here are some tips to help prevent swimmer’s remorse:
1. Do your homework
Before you go to a beach, lake or pond, check with local public health authorities to find out whether any advisories have been issued, Stoner said. If there’s a lifeguard on site, ask him or her about the latest water testing results. She also suggests checking earth911.org. At the top of the home page, select “Beaches.”
2. Use your eyes
When you get to the water, check for signs indicating a closure or advisory. At Vancouver Lake, Gonzales recommends looking for a blue-green scum atop the water. This could indicate high levels of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria. Clark County Public Health also urges people to avoid swimming in slow-moving water that is warm and murky, or in water that is visibly contaminated with mammal waste or dead animals and fish.
3. Keep your mouth closed
Try to avoid swallowing the water, Clark County Public Health suggests. However, this may be easier said than done.
“You probably don’t realize how much water you ingest when you swim,” Stoner said, noting that small children typically swallow a lot more animal and human waste than adults do when swimming in untreated water.
4. Rinse off
Towel off thoroughly after swimming, and shower with soap and water after returning home, Clark County Public Health advises. This will rid the skin of larva that can cause itching.
5. Don’t swim after a heavy rainfall
Stormwater contamination is the largest known source of beach water pollution, Stoner said. Stormwater carries pollution from the streets to the beach without treatment when it rains.
6. When in doubt, keep out
If you’re unsure about the water quality, play it safe.
“It’s better not to swim than to end up spending the night in the bathroom or, even worse, the emergency room,” Stoner said.
7. Do your part
Help prevent water pollution by picking up trash, which attracts vermin. Also keep babies in tight-fitting plastic underpants when swimming to help reduce fecal contamination, Stoner urged.
Help oneline
The Internet offers several resources for checking local and national water quality reports. Here are some to consider:
The Natural Resources Defense Council recently issued a report, “Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches,” examining water pollution at 100 of the nation’s most popular beaches, including some in Oregon and Washington. To view that report, visit NRDC: Testing the Waters 2008.
The Web site earth911.org posts closure and advisory information on beaches around the country. At the top of the home page, select “Beaches.”
Locally, Clark County Public Health monitors Vancouver Lake, and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Department tests Klineline Pond. For more information, visit Public Beaches - Pools/Spas/Beaches - Environmental Health - Public Health - Clark County Washington. People also can call the county at 360-397-8428.
Mary Ann Albright can be reached at maryann.albright@columbian.com or 360-735-4507.
Water, water, everywhere, but what is safe for swimming?- Columbian.com, Clark County, Washington, Vancouver, Breaking News, U.S., World, Entertainment, Video, Weather, Sports
Doesn't sounds good.
Us the mindless liberals? You can go ahead sitting and do nothing, and keep destroying the environments, then someday you will not have any foods, water, anything to drink, nothing to eat, at all. Sorry we can't live that way and I don't want that happen.
