STATE OF THE GREAT LAKES 2005
WE SWIM AT THE BEAi
Yes, Great Lakes beaches are safe for swimming unless health authorities inform otherwise through
health-related swimming advisories.
The Issues
• Each year, many beaches in the Great Lakes are
posted as unsafe or closed for swimming as a
result of bacterial contamination. These postings
may occur for the following reasons:
> Combined sewage systems may overflow
after a heavy rainfall causing the direct or
indirect discharge of raw sewage and
stormwater into the Great Lakes.
> Improper storage and use of manure to
fertilize agricultural fields which can wash
off into waterways.
> Onshore wind, which stirs up bottom
sediments containing bacteria.
> Wildlife waste on beaches (e.g. sea gulls,
geese). Preliminary research has indicated
that wildlife on beaches may be more of a
contributing factor towards bacterial
contamination of water and beaches than
previously thought.
• Other pressures on our recreational waters
include increased pollution of coastal areas due
to population growth and, subsequently,
changing land use.
• Bacterial contamination can cause diarrhea,
cramps, nausea, headaches, and other
symptoms.
• The frequency of beach closings, advisories, or
postings may be difficult to compare due to
different water quality standards and monitoring
methods used in different localities.
The Indicator
The safety of Great Lakes beaches for recreational
purposes is indicated by the number of health-
related advisories, beach closures, or postings issued
to a particular beach. These advisories occur when E.
coli and other harmful bacteria are detected at levels
above established limits, as measured by local health
authorities. The monitoring of bacteria in the waters
of the Great Lakes region determines the presence of
bacteria but can also aid in identifying sources of
bacterial contamination. The trends provided by the
number of beach advisories, postings, and closures
will aid in beach management and the prediction of
episodes of poor water quality.
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Photo: U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office.
The Assessment
Beaches are generally safe for swimmers. In 2003, 69
percent of the 919 beaches monitored in the United
States and Canada were open throughout the
swimming season. Nevertheless, the public is
advised to heed current public health advisories
regarding beach postings. There are seasonal and
local trends in recreational water quality. Beach
sample results tend to show similar bacteria levels
after events with similar meteorological conditions
(primarily wind direction and volume and duration
of rainfall).
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IM AT THE BEACH?
United States
Canada
91%
69%
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Number of
beaches surveyed
298
316 329 319 383 649
218
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
238 293 304 272 270
Percentage of the swimming season when reported Great Lakes beaches had no postings due to elevated bacteria levels. While six
years of data are presented, trends over time are difficult to accurately interpret due to changing measurement techniques, increased
monitoring, surveying of different beaches, varying levels of pollution, and varying weather conditions.
Current Actions
The Ontario 1998 Beach Management Protocol
outlines standardized guidelines for beach
monitoring. In addition, many municipalities in
Ontario are developing long-term control plans to
address wet weather days and stormwater runoff.
Environment Canada and the Ontario Ministry of
Health and Long-Term Care are working together to
develop a web-based beach monitoring and
reporting system that will link beach data to
meteorological data. This beach management
system is one step toward the goal of establishing a
model with predictive capabilities for the posting of
Great Lakes beaches.
The U.S. Beaches Environmental Assessment and
Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000 provides
resources to develop and implement consistent
monitoring and notification programs. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the Center
for Disease Control are conducting the National
Epidemiological and Environmental Assessment of
Recreational Waters Study in the Great Lakes to
evaluate new indicators of recreational waters and
to determine their relationship to health effects. In
addition, the U.S. Great Lakes Strategy, created to
advance the restoration and protection of the Great
Lakes basin ecosystem, aims for 90 percent of the
U.S. Great Lakes monitored and high-priority
beaches to be open for 95 percent of the swimming
season by 2010.
Actions Needed
Currently, one to two days are required to obtain
test sample results for harmful bacteria, resulting in
delayed beach postings. New testing methods that
will provide faster results are needed. To improve
accurate and timely postings, predictive models are
needed to forecast whether E. coli levels will exceed
established limits in recreational waters. Various
climatic and biological factors such as cloud cover,
wind direction and speed, and the presence or
absence of wildlife can be helpful in predicting
beach closures in advance of receiving test sample
results.
The development of
techniques to effectively
isolate and quantify viruses
and other bacteria in
recreational waters will
increase the safety of our
Great Lakes beaches.
Photo: U.S. EPA Great Lakes
National Program Office.
To Learn More
For further information about Great Lakes beaches,
refer to the State of the Great Lakes 2005 report,
which, along with other Great Lakes references, can
be accessed at www.epa.gov/glnpo/solec.
02/06
EPA 905-F-05-004
IISG-05-10
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