Tips & Resources

10 Simple Things You Can Do To Help Improve Beachwater Quality and Protect Your Health

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Everyone can help reduce beachwater pollution. For example, we can all take steps to reduce the amount of water sent to sewage treatment plants -- which have the potential to overflow -- by helping to reduce polluted runoff. Individuals can also make a difference by becoming educated and expressing their desire for clean, healthy water. Below are 10 simple actions you can take to improve our beachwater.

1. Be a good steward at the beach.
Pick up your garbage if you bring a picnic to the beach, and do not feed the birds or other wildlife. Seagulls and other animals are attracted to the garbage and food waste that people leave behind, and feeding them will only encourage their permanent presence there. Waste from wildlife is one of the three largest-known sources of bacterial pollution and can lead to beach closures. Help convince your local beach management agency to invest in secure garbage cans with close-fitting lids. Make sure children who are not yet toilet trained are dressed in a swim diaper and rubber pants or a similar tight-fitting outer garment. An extra layer of protection in addition to a swim diaper is necessary to help prevent bacteria from entering the water.
2. Clean up after your pet.
Don't leave pet waste on the ground. It could contain harmful bacteria and excess nutrients that can wash into storm drains and eventually pollute local waters. Flush it, bag it, or look for signs in public parks that direct pet owners to appropriate trash receptacles.
3. Conserve water.
Reduce the amount of water you use at home. Extra water overwhelms sewage treatment plants and contributes to raw sewage overflows. Do not let water run unnecessarily when brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing dishes. Install a water-saving toilet to save thousands of gallons annually. Install faucet aerators and a water-efficient showerhead to cut the amount of water you use by 50 percent and to save energy by reducing hot water use. Use a bucket and sponge instead of a hose when washing your car to save more than 100 gallons.
4. Direct runoff to the soil, not the street.
Help keep stormwater from running off your property and into local waterways and the sewer systems. Disconnect rain gutters and down spouts on your home and direct them to soil, grass or gravel areas and not blacktop, cement or other hard surfaces. Learn about creating a rain garden or using rain barrels. Wash your car on the lawn instead of on the street or driveway. Sweep your driveway and sidewalks, rather than hosing them down.
5. Don't pour it down the drain.
When you dump paint, oil, harsh cleansers and other hazardous products down the drain, they can find their way into nearby bodies of water. Contact your local sanitation, public works or environmental health department to find out about hazardous waste collection days and sites.
6. Maintain your septic system.
Have your septic tank cleaned out every three to five years. Such maintenance prolongs the life of your system and can help prevent groundwater contamination and beachwater contamination.
7. Practice proper lawn and garden care.
Use natural fertilizers such as compost on your garden and minimize the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Landscape with natural vegetation rather than lawns, which require fertilizers and herbicides, to reduce the amount of runoff and pollution.
8. Practice proper marine and recreational boating waste disposal.
Dispose of your boat sewage in onshore sanitary facilities. Don't dump sewage or trash overboard. Boating wastes discharged into coastal waters can be a significant cause of high pathogen concentrations.
9. Support local, state and federal legislation that promotes the cleanup of pollution sources.
Write to your representatives and senators and let them know you support strong beach legislation and clean water protections. Tell your local government to move forward quickly to address sewage overflows and stormwater. Make sure you tell officials that you are willing to pay for programs to monitor beaches and reduce runoff pollution.
10. Learn about the water quality at local beaches and choose your beach carefully.
Go to NRDC's Guide to Finding a Clean Beach, the EPA's website, Earth 911 or the local public health authority, all of which have data on beach monitoring and notification policies, as well as on closings and advisories. To show your concern, ask an official with your county or town's health department these questions:
a) What are the sources of pollution affecting the waters where I swim?
b) What sort of water quality monitoring is performed at these beaches?
c) Are beaches always closed when monitoring shows that the bacterial standard is exceeded?
d) What is the current status of these waters (are they open or closed), and what warning signs can I look for?
Whenever possible, swim at the beaches that your research shows have the cleanest waters or are carefully monitored with strict closure or advisory procedures. Stay away from beaches with visible discharge pipes and avoid swimming at urban beaches after a heavy rainfall.