Digital News Report – According to the non-profit group, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the beaches in the United States have remained contaminated at all time high levels. They recently have released their annual report on the best and worst beaches based on 2010 government data from over 3,000 beaches nationwide for pollution. Last year, had the second-highest amount of beach closures or advisory days in the last twenty years. Luckily, some beaches remained clean, which the organization gave extra praise as being a “Superstar Beach.” On the other hand, NRDC also pointed out ten beaches that were “Repeat Offenders.”
The Top Ten of “Repeat Offenders” include three beaches in Southern California; Avalon Beach in Los Angeles County, Cabrillo Beach Station in Los Angeles County, and Doheny State Beach in Orange County.
Others that made the “Repeat Offenders” list were Keaton Beach in Taylor County in Florida, North Point Marina North Beach in Lake County in Illinois, Beachwood Beach West in Ocean County in New Jersey, Villa Angela State Park in Cuyahoga County in Ohio, Ropes Park in Nueces County in Texas.
In Wisconsin, two beaches were “Repeat Offenders” – a beach in Kenosha County and the South Shore Beach in Milwaukee.
The most often contaminated beach water in 2010, was found on the shores of the Great Lakes. There were 15 percent of the water samples, which had exceeded public health standards.
Some of the pollution in the beach waters are made from storm water and sewage being drained into it. The NRDC group points to oil spills, along with human and animal waste, as contributing the most serious water contamination at the beaches.
The NRDC 21st annual report Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches also gave 200 of the most popular beaches a 5-star rating guide. This rating is based on water quality, and how well the beach is tested and the public is notified.
In San Francisco, two beaches were rated by the report. Baker Beach received two stars out of five. They got a star for “Posts closings/advisories “and another star for “Always issues advisories promptly.” At the Ocean Beach they also got two stars for doing the same things.
The best beaches that received “Superstar” ratings in the NRDC report were Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach-Rehoboth Avenue Beach, in Sussex County and Dewey Beach, in Sussex County. In Minnesota, they named Park Point Lafayette Community Club Beach, in St. Louis County for perfect water tests. The Hampton Beach State Park in Rockingham County in New Hampshire also gained high marks for clean water. These four “Superstar Beaches” received a 5-star rating and have had perfect testing results in the last three years.
By: Victoria Brown