&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water EPA- 820-F-13-010
4305T
April 2013
Marine Beach Sanitary Survey
Summary
EPA has made available a Marine Beach
Sanitary Survey to provide managers of marine
beaches with a technically sound and consistent
approach to identify pollution sources and share
information.
EPA developed the new survey to help beach
managers in coastal states synthesize all
contributing beach and watershed information—
including water quality data, pollutant source
data, and land use data—so that they can
improve water quality for swimming.
Beach managers can also use sanitary survey
data (e.g., bacteria levels, source flow, turbidity,
rainfall) to develop models to predict daily
bathing beach water quality, if appropriate.
The information gathered in the survey can also
benefit stormwater program managers,
wastewater facility managers, local elected
officials, local planning authorities, academic
researchers, and other beach and water quality
professionals.
Background
ERA'S BEACH Act Program
The Beaches Environmental Assessment and
Coastal Health (BEACH) Act program focuses
on the following three goals:
1) Support the use of sound, up-to-date science
in the beach monitoring programs through
greater use of beach sanitary surveys, predictive
modeling, and rapid methods.
2) Improve communication of public health
messages by providing more timely beach water
quality information and advisory notifications to
the public and other agencies.
3) Support beach programs by facilitating the
sharing and transfer of information among beach
stakeholders.
This activity falls under the first goal, supporting
the use of sound, up-to-date science. A beach
sanitary survey is a step toward solving the
pollution problems through identifying unknown
sources of beach contamination. By
investigating the beach area and contributing
watershed areas, potential pollution impacting a
beach can be identified and documented for
decision making.
What is a Sanitary Survey?
A sanitary survey is a method of
investigating the sources of fecal
contamination to a water body. Sanitary
surveys traditionally have been used for
drinking water, shellfish, and watershed
protection programs. More recently, they
have been adapted for use at beaches.
Sanitary surveys help state and local beach
program managers and public health
officials identify sources of beach water
pollution, assess the magnitude of pollution,
and identify priority locations for water
testing.
Beach managers can use sanitary survey
results to prioritize state or county resource
allocations to help improve bathing beach
water quality. In addition, they can use
sanitary survey data (e.g., bacteria levels,
source flow, turbidity, rainfall) to develop
models to predict bathing beach water
quality using readily available data.
What's Involved in Performing a Sanitary
Survey?
Performing a beach sanitary survey involves
collecting information at the beach, as well
as in the surrounding watershed.
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Information collected at the beach may include:
- number of birds at the beach,
- slope of the beach,
- location and condition of bathrooms, and
- amount of algae on the beach.
Information collected in the watershed may
include:
- land use,
- location of storm water outfalls,
- surface water quality, and
- residential septic tank information.
The New Marine Sanitary Survey
This marine beach sanitary survey is modeled
after the 2008 survey, but is tailored to the
marine beach environment. The new survey
forms include detailed questions on winds, tides,
and other characteristics that affect marine
beaches and were not included on the surveys
for the Great Lakes.
The survey consists of two forms, in paper and
electronic formats: a routine on-site sanitary
survey, and an annual sanitary survey. These
survey forms are backed by an extensive user
manual containing additional technical
information.
The Routine On-Site Sanitary Survey
The routine on-site sanitary survey is designed
to be filled out each time water quality samples
are taken. The information for this form is
collected by observation and measurement at or
near the beach, for use in short-term beach
assessments.
The Annual Sanitary Survey
The annual sanitary survey records more
comprehensive information about factors in the
surrounding watershed that might affect water
quality at the beach. It was designed for use in
long-term beach assessments. This form
includes, for example, information on septic
tanks in the contributing watershed or land use
information, depending on the beach being
surveyed.
For More Information
For more information on the marine sanitary
survey, please contact Rick Hoffmann (202-566-
0388 orhoffrnann.rick@epa.gov).
For the survey instruments, and for information
about an introductory webinar, go to:
http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/beaches/sanitarys
urvey index.cfm
For general information about beaches go to:
http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/beaches/
For information about a specific beach go to:
http://watersgeo.epa.gov/beacon2/.
To find your EPA Regional or state beach
program representative go to:
water.epa.gov/tvpe/oceb/beaches/whereyoulive
state.cfm.
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