Or EPA
~
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Marine Routine Sanitary Survey for Recreational Waters
EPA 820-F-20-007
March 2021
INTRO: BASIC LOCATION INFORMATION
Name of beach:
Date(s) of survey:
Beach ID:
Time(s) of survey:
Name of waterbody:
Name(s) of surveyor(s):
Sampling station(s)/ID:
Surveyor affiliation:
WQX organizational ID:
Sampling location
Latitude:
Longitude:
Dates of swim season
Start:
End:
QUALITY ASSURANCE
I the data collected use an approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)? yes
no
PART 1: WEATHER AND GENERAL BEACH CONDITIONS
Weather Conditions
Survey the weather using the method of your choice. You may use the National Weather Service as your source.
Air temperature: °C or °F
Method for temperature: (check one) ~ Liquid-in-glass therm. ~ Electronic thermometer
~ Weather app ~ Weather report: from airport or weather station? ~ Other:
Wind speed: units:
Wind aust speed: units:
Method for wind speed: (check ail that apply) ~ Wind vane for direction ~ Weather app
~	Wind sock for direction/speed ~ Anemometer for wind speed
~	Beaufort scale for wind speed ~ Aerovane for wind direction/speed
~	Weather report: from airport or weather station? ~ Other (specify):
Wind direction:
Is the wind: (circle one) Onshore or Offshore
If you collected wind speed from a local weather station, how far were you from the station:
mi or km
How recent was the last rain event: (circle one)
0-24 hrs 24-48 hrs 48-72 hrs 72+hrs
Rain intensity: (circle one) Misting
Moderate rain	Heavy rain
Light rain
Other:
Total measured rainfall:
in or cm
Distance to the gauge/station when recording rainfall amount:
mi or km
Method for rainfall: (check one) ~ Rain gauge ~ Weather report ~ Weather app
~ Other (specify):
Sky condition/amount of
cloud cover: (circle one)
Sunny/
No clouds
Mostly sunny/
1/8 to 2/8
Partly sunny/
3/8 to 1/2
Mostly cloudy/
5/8 to 7/8
Cloudy/
Total coverage
Method for weather conditions: (check one) ~ Visual observations ~ Weat
her app ~ Ot
ner (specify):
Beach Conditions
What are the waves like right now: (estimated, circle one)
Calm (no waves)	Normal (1-2 ft high, estimated)
Rough (>2 ft high, estimated)
How tall are the waves:
ftorm
Is the wave height measured or estimated? (circle one) Measured Estimated
Method for measuring wave height: (check one) ~ Visual examination of wave height ~ Graduated stick and ranging pole
~ Other:
Tidal Phase: (circle all that apply)
High Tide - the Low Tide - the
highest level of the lowest level of the
tide (high water)	tide (trough)
Spring Tide - observed high tides are
higher and low tides are lower than average
(occurs when moon is at new phase and full phase)
Neap Tide- observed high tides are a little lower
and low tides a little higher than average
(occurs during the 1st and 3rd quarter moon, when the moon
appears "half full")
Tidal Currents: (circle one)	Ebb current (an outgoing tide)
Describe the reference point (e.g., time [hours] since last high tide): _
Flood current (an incoming tide)
Other:
Orientation of tide to the beach:
Current longshore speed: (see user manual on how to estimate longshore speed) _
units:
Longshore direction:
Method for longshore speed: (check one) ~ Stick with fishing reel with water balloon on end ~ Ball and tether ~ Other (specify):	
Are there rip currents present: yes
no
If yes, describe:
Additional comments or observations
1

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Or EPA
~
Marine Routine Sanitary Survey for Recreational Waters
EPA 820-F-20-007
March 2021
PART 2: WATER QUALITY
Bacteria
List bacteria samples collected at the beach. Potential pollution sources, if applicable, can be recorded in Part 4.
Sample Point
Sample
Number
Location
(lat/long)
Date & Time
Parameter
(enterococci, E. coli, etc.)
Comments






























Water temperature:	 °Cor°F Water color: (circle one) Clear Blue Brown Green Red Other:_
Method for water temperature: (check one) ~ Multiprobe ~ Electronic meter ~ Graduated thermometer
~ Report from local radio station ~ Report from NOAA weather band radio	~ Other (specify):
Has the water color changed since the last visit? yes no don't know If yes, describe:
Select the best description of the water smell: (circle one) None Septic Algae Sulfur Other:
Measured pH:
Measured Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP):
Measured Total Dissolved Solids (TDS):
How did you measure turbidity?
(check one)
~	Observed: (circle one) Clear
~	Measured: NTU value:
Slightly Turbid Opaque
Secchi disc depth:
What method was used to measure the turbidity of the water: (circle one)
Titrimetric test kit	Nephelometer/Turbidimeter
Simple visual observation
Other (specify):	
Visual test I
Salinity: (circle one) 0-5 ppt 5-15 ppt
15-40 ppt

Conductivity: s/m or s/c
Measured Dissolved Oxvaen (DO):
Measured Total Suspended Solids (TSS):
Describe other measurements taken and report values:
Document water quality with photographs and detailed descriptions
Additional water quality observations
PART 3: PEOPLE (number of beach users)	
Are there recreators (swimmers, boaters, waders, etc.) present at the beach or waterbody? yes	no
Total people in water:	 + Total people out of water:	 = Total people at the beach:	
Total number of boats:	
Report activities observed on the beach and in the water. Take photographs, if possible.	
Activity (swimming, fishing, etc.)






Approximate # of people participating






Add any comments and observations about the activities above
Describe notable activities that could affect water quality (Example: babies in disposable diapers in the water):
2

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Method for numbers of people participating in various activities: (check one) ~ Counting by surveyor
	~ Counting by lifeguard	~ Photos	~ Turnstiles	~ Other:		
PART 4: POTENTIAL POLLUTION SOURCES
Identify visible sources of pollutants up to 500 feet from the beach or waterbody boundary. Quantify sources and take photos if possible.
Type of Source
Discharge
Source
Name
Discharge
Source Amount
(H, M, L)
Discharge
Flow Rate
Discharge Volume
Discharge Source Characteristics
River





Wetland drainage





Pond





Outfall/Pipe (e.g., stormwater)





Septic (e.g., leaking pit latrine)





Runoff (impervious surfaces)





Homeless encampments





Other (specify):





Did you collect samples and complete the Bacteria Samples section in Part 2? yes no If no, describe why not:
How did you identify the source of discharge? (circle one) Visual observation WWTP Notification/Report
Other (specify):	
How did you measure flow/velocity or volume? (circle one) Mechanical flow meter Electric flow meter
USGS gauging station	WWTP notification/report	Orange (float) and stopwatch Other:
Are tidal pools present? yes no If yes, how many:	What is their average size:	units:
Floatables and Debris
Are floatables present in the water? yes no	If yes, select all types of floatables found: (check ail that apply)
~	Street litter (e.g., cigarette filters)	~ Building materials (e.g., wood/siding)
~	Food-related litter (e.g., packaging/containers)	~ Fishing-related (e.g., fishing line, nets, lures)
~	Medical items (e.g., syringes)	~ Household waste (e.g., household trash, plastic bags)
~	Sewage-related (e.g., tampons, condoms)	~ Other:	
Method for determining floatables presence: (circle one) Visual observation Cleanup event results
Other:
Is there debris or litter present on the beach? yes no
Select the amount (%) of beach debris on the beach: (circle one)
None Low (1 % - 20%) Moderate (21 %- 50%)
High (>50%)
Select the types of debris found: (check ail that apply)
~	Street litter (e.g., cigarette filters)
~	Food-related litter (e.g., packaging/containers)
~	Medical items (e.g., syringes)
~	Sewage-related (e.g., tampons, condoms)
~	Natural debris (e.g., driftwood, algae)
~	Building materials (e.g., wood/siding)
~	Fishing-related (e.g., fishing line, nets, lures)
~	Household waste (e.g., household trash, plastic bags)
~	Tar/Oil (e.g., tar balls)
~	Oil/Grease (e.g., oil slick)
~	Other:
Method for determining debris presence: (circle one) Visual observation Cleanup event results Other:
Algae
Is algae present in the nearshore water and/or beach? yes
no don't know


Select the amount (%) of algae in nearshore water: (circle one)



None Low (1 %—20%)
Moderate (21 %-50%)
High
(> 50%)
Select the amount (%) of algae on the beach: (circle one)



None Low (1 %—20%)
Moderate (21 %-50%)
High
(> 50%)
3

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United States
Environmental Protection
#- Marine Routine Sanitary Survey for Recreational Waters
Agency
Method for determining amount and color of algae in nearshore water and beach: (circle one)
Visual observation	Other:
March 2021
Circle the types of algae found: (check all that apply) ~ Periphyton (attached to rocks, stringy) ~ Globular (blobs of floating material)
~ Free floating (no obvious mass of materials) ~ Other:	
Algae colors: (circle ail that apply) Light green Bright green Dark green Yellow Brown Other:	
Is the nearshore water discolored? yes no don't know
If yes, specify the color: (circle ail that apply) Clear Green Dark Red Brown Yellowish Other:.
Is there presence of harmful algal blooms? yes no don't know If yes, photograph and describe:
Method for identifying harmful algal blooms in nearshore water and beach: (circle one)
Field guide or internet site for taxonomic identification	Other:
Are there mats or scum in nearshore waters? (circle ail that apply)
Mats-floating Foam
Scum
None
Are there dead fish or other dead wildlife present with bloom?
yes no


Have any illnesses (e.g., itchy throat, cough, gastrointestinal) been reported by local or state health departments? yes no
If yes, describe:
Is algal toxin monitoring conducted? yes no don't know If yes, have algal toxins been detected?
Have algal species been identified? yes no don't know If yes, specify the species:	
Presence of Wildlife and Domestic Animals
Are wildlife and domestic animals present? yes
no
If yes, document presence with photographs.
Are dead birds found on the beach?
yes
no
If yes, specify the number and species of dead birds
Type
Geese
Gulls
Shorebirds
Ducks
Pigeons
Turtles
Dogs
Horses
Rodents (specify)
Other:
Number










Method for determining presence of wildlife and domestic animals: (circle one)
Counting using hand-held counter and if necessary, binoculars	Other:_
List the number and species of birds found dead on the beach
Type
Common
loon
Herring
gulls
Ring-billed
gulls
Double crested
cormorants
Long-tailed
ducks
White-winged
scoter
Horned
grebes
Red-necked
grebes
Other:
Number Dead









Method for determining the number of dead birds: (circle one)
Counting using hand-held counter and if necessary, binoculars	Other:		
Method for identifying dead birds: (circle one) Field guide or internet site for taxonomic identification Other:_
Are dead fish found in the waterbody or at the beach? yes no
If yes, document with photographs and specify the number of dead fish found on the beach or in/at the waterbody
Method for determining the number of dead fish: (circle one): Visual observation	Other:	
Additional comments or observations on pollution sources, algae, or animals. Describe any photos taken.
4

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