Beach Conditions and Monitoring

from VWMC earlier this afternoon:

As you make your Labor Day plans, check out these websites and become educated on beach monitoring and enjoying the beach safely.  Also, please help spread the word about these sources of information by forwarding this announcement to your colleagues and friends. 

1.) Virginia Department of Health (VDH): Beach Monitoring Program -- Bacteria levels in beach water are monitored at 46 public beaches in Virginia on the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean during the swimming season (May-September). Water samples are collected weekly by Local Health Departments and analyzed by local laboratories for enterococci bacteria. If bacteria levels exceed Virginia's Water Quality Standard of 104 colony forming units (cfu)/100 mL of water, a swimming advisory is issued.

An online map of current beach monitoring results and advisories is available at www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/DEE/BeachMonitoring/beachadvisories/. Follow VDH’s Beach Monitoring Program on Twitter (@VDHBeach) to receive weekly results and swimming advisories: https://twitter.com/VDHBeach.

The VDH website -- http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/DEE/BeachMonitoring/ -- contains:

-- Current Swimming Advisories and Monitored Beaches Map (uses Google Maps)

-- Beach Monitoring Data (by year)

-- Frequently Asked Questions: VDH-Issued Swimming Advisories

-- 2014 Report of Microbial Source Tracking

-- Local Beaches Information

-- Brochure: Safely Enjoy Virginia’s Natural Waters (Como Disfrutar de las Aguas Naturales de Virginia Sin Peligros)

-- Local Health Department Contacts for Beach Monitoring

And more.

++++++++++++++

2.) EPA Websites

• “Beaches” -- http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/beaches/ -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created webpages that can help you plan a trip to the beach, learn about beaches and the
  
  (CONTINUED)
  issues around them, and understand how EPA protects beaches. 
• “National Coastal Condition Reports” -- http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/assessmonitor/nccr/index.cfm -- EPA reports on the ecological and environmental conditions in U.S. coastal waters.

++++++++++++++

3.) Protect Your Health While Swimming at the Beach – VDH recommends the following simple steps to protect your health while swimming at the beach:

• Observe Swimming Advisories; do not enter the water at a beach when swimming advisory signs are posted.
• Avoid swallowing water or having water forced up your nose when swimming; natural waters may contain disease-causing organisms that can cause gastrointestinal or neurological illnesses.
• Avoid swimming for a few days after heavy rainfall; bacteria levels are likely to be high and disease-causing organisms are more likely to be present after rainfall due to pollution from land runoff and other sources.
• Prevent direct contact of cuts and open wounds with recreational water; natural waters may contain disease-causing organisms that may cause skin infections.
• Avoid swimming in areas where dead fish are present; dead fish may indicate that water conditions are poor or hazardous materials are in the water. Please contact the Department of Environmental Quality (804-698-4000) if you observe a fish kill.
• Don't swim if you are ill or have a weakened immune system; some organisms are opportunistic and may only cause illness when you are already ill or your immune system is weakened.
• Shower with soap after swimming; showering helps remove potential disease-causing organisms.
• Swim away from fishing piers, pipes, drains, and water flowing from storm drains onto a beach.
• Do not dispose of trash, pet waste, or dirty diapers on the beach.

++++++++++++++

4.) "Beaches and Bacteria" -- The Virginia Water Resources Research Center updated its popular “Beaches and Bacteria” article in January 2014.  The article describes:

• The Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act
• Virginia’s bacteria standards
• The types of indicator organisms monitored at Virginia’s beaches
• How people responsible for beach closures/advisories decide what is safe
• The difference between a beach advisory and a beach closure
• Microbial Source Tracking

++++++++++++++

5.) "The Beach and Your Coastal Watershed" -- EPA published this factsheet that pertains to coastal watersheds. It is available at http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/fact2.cfm  and covers the following topics:

• What Is a Beach and What Does It Do?
• Why Can't We Use the Beach Sometimes?
• What Is EPA Doing to Protect Beaches?
• What Can You Do to Help Protect Beaches?

++++++++++++++

++++++++++++++

This special announcement is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Virginia Department of Health as a grant to the Virginia Water Monitoring Council.