Posted by Snow in 
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released its Testing the Waters 2009 report yesterday, chronicling which ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches exceeded daily national contamination standards for human and animal waste in more than 25% of samples last year.
These should no longer be insuch danger, with so much money having been spent on Stimulus projects and the Superfund doing its job. That any beach sites this bad still exist is an embarrassment. These are really no longer beaches, they are formal dump sites.
The Environmental Protection Agency conducted the tests. The EPA has agreed to update its policies by 2012. These current EPA policies were formulated based on research performed in the 1970s and 1980s.
The top 10 worst polluted beaches are ranked according to the percentage of sand and seawater tests that exceeded acceptable contamination levels. Although the ebaches are still open, it is feasible to assume local health facilities are taxed unduly with illnesses and bacteriological contaminations causing complications for whomever “enjoys” these beaches.
Some of these exceedence levels were almost 100% unacceptable.
High storm-water levels, fewer wave actions and straight-from-city water flow all contribute to pollution levels. Lackluster storm water and sewage systems aggravate the problem, as storm-water runoff had a hand in two-thirds of closings and advisories last year.
1. Shired Island, Dixie County, Fla.
Monitoring Frequency: Once a week
2008 Total Samples: 29
Percent Exceedance: 90%
2. Kings at Stacy Brook, Essex County, Mass.
Monitoring Frequency: Once a week
2008 Total Samples: 25
Percent Exceedance: 72%
3. Jeorse Park Beach I, Lake County, Ind.
Monitoring Frequency: Five times per week
2008 Total Samples: 73
Percent Exceedance: 67%
4. Cockle Cove Creek-Parking Lot, Barnstable County, Mass.
Monitoring Frequency: Once a week
2008 Total Samples: 13
Percent Exceedance: 62%
5. Dekle Beach, Taylor County, Fla.
Monitoring Frequency: Once a week
2008 Total Samples: 21
Percent Exceedance: 62%
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