Kitsap
Public Health District issued a no-contact health advisory for Port Washington
Narrows and Sinclair Inlet in effect through January 29th. This is due to an
approximately 82,400 gallon sewage spill from Bremerton Public
Works. Signs have been posted at public access points and the public is
advised to avoid contact with the water in those areas.
Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin
rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the
elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay
updated on water quality at your beaches by following our Fecal Matters blog
posts, connecting on Facebook,
or joining our listserv.
Julianne
Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for
questions.
Seattle and King County Public Health have lifted the no-contact advisory to water contact at Saltwater State Park and Washington State Parks have re-opened the park to the public. Last month, heavy rains caused a sewage spill at the Midway Sewer District that discharged near the park. Recent water quality samples taken show that bacteria levels have dropped to safe levels. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated on water quality at your beaches by following our Fecal Matters blog posts, connecting on Facebook, or joining our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
12/24/2019 Update: Kitsap Public Health District extended the no-contact advisory in Port Washington Narrows to Dec. 31 and expanded the affected area to include Dyes Inlet. This is due to an additional sewage spill of approximately 6,000 gallons. Kitsap Public Health District issued a no-contact health advisory for Port Washington Narrows due to sewage spill caused by heavy rains of more than 15,000 gallons. Signs have been posted at public access points and the public is advised to avoid contact with the water in those areas. This advisory will remain in effect through Thursday, Dec. 26. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated on water quality at your beaches by following our Fecal Matters blog posts, connecting on Facebook, or joining our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Seattle and King County Public Health has issued a no-contact advisory to water contact at Saltwater State Park. Heavy rains caused a sewage spill at the Midway Sewer District that has discharged near the park. Signs have been posted at the park notifying the public. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated on water quality at your beaches by following our Fecal Matters blog posts, connecting on Facebook, or joining our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Good News! Kitsap Public Health District has lifted the no-contact advisory for Appletree Cove that was issued following a sewage spill near West Kingston Road. A follow-up investigation by Kitsap County Public Works determined all the sewage was contained on shore and no sewage reached the marine water.
Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH program manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Kitsap Public Health District issued a no-contact health advisory for Appletree Cove due to a 6,100 gallon sewage spill. Affected areas are Appletree Cove, Carpenter Creek estuary, and the Kingston ferry terminal vicinity. Signs have been posted at public access points and the public is advised to avoid contact with the water in those areas. This advisory will remain in effect through Tuesday, Nov. 12. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated on water quality at your beaches by following our Fecal Matters blog posts, connecting on Facebook, or joining our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Good News! Jefferson County Health Department has lifted the no-contact advisories at Herb Beck Marina and Oak Bay County Park. Analysis of water samples collected recently found bacteria levels were low and safe for water contact.
Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH program manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Jefferson County Department of Heath issued no-contact advisories to water recreation at Herb Beck Marina beach and Oak Bay County Park beach. These advisories are due to high levels of fecal bacteria in the water. Signs have been posted at each beach to warn the public. These beaches are being re-sampled and the advisories will stay in effect until bacterial levels have dropped to safe levels. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Dakwas Beach Park open
Good News! The Makah BEACH Program has lifted the no-contact advisory at Dakwas Park Beach in Neah Bay. Analysis of water samples collected recently found bacteria levels were low and safe for water contact.
Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv. Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Good News! Jefferson County Health Department has lifted the no-contact advisory at Herb Beck Marina in Quilcene. Analysis of water samples collected recently found bacteria levels were low and safe for water contact.
Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH program manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Jefferson County Department of Heath issued a no-contact advisory to water recreation at Herb Beck Marina beach in Quilcene. This advisory is due to high levels of fecal bacteria in the water. Signs have been posted at the beach to warn the public. This beach is being re-sampled and the advisory will stay in effect until bacterial levels have dropped to safe levels. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses. Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv. Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
There have been a number of health advisories issued for Washington beaches this year. A lot of people are wondering why and if this is typical. This year there have been five health advisories issued due to high levels of fecal bacteria during routine testing. There have also been 11 closures to water contact at beaches affected by sewage spills. That is more than we have seen in the past few years at this point in the summer beach season.
How Washington beaches stack up
We collect data throughout the year and issue an annual health report for beaches. Ninety-five percent of beaches monitored received a passing grade in 2018, revealing that Washington's saltwater beaches are safe for swimming and recreational activities. We have been monitoring water quality at beaches for 15 years. The number of monitored beaches that had less than two swimming closures or advisories improved by 19 percent over the last three years.
Communities continue to replace old, failing septic systems and repair or improve infrastructure. Those efforts have a positive effect on water quality and can reduce high levels of bacteria in the water. In 2018, Bay View State Park, Kayak Point County Park, and Sooes Beach had more than one sampling event in the advisory or closure range. For that reason, these three beaches were considered not passing beaches.
BEACH partners work together to monitor water quality
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, our scientists and county and local BEACH partners collect water samples from 201 sites at 67 of Washington's most popular saltwater beaches. The water samples are tested for bacterial contamination. This information helps health officials issue swimming advisories to keep the public safe!
Water is tested for fecal bacteria
Local health departments, counties, tribes and volunteers collect water quality samples weekly or bi-weekly. The samples go to state accredited labs to be tested for enterococcus, a type of fecal bacteria. The fecal indicator enterococci is used, because this indicator better correlates with swimming-related illness than other fecal indicators, like fecal coliform or E.coli.
Issuing no-contact advisories
Water samples in a Quanti-Tray.
Like most states in the U.S., our BEACH Program makes decisions about water quality based on EPA's National Beach Guidance. Because we are part of a federal grant program to fund beach monitoring, we also use grant performance criteria as part of our decision-making process. When fecal bacteria levels exceed the EPA and grant performance criteria, we work with local health departments to issue a health advisory at the beach. Follow-up water samples are taken and if bacterial levels had dropped into the safe swimming range the advisory is lifted.
Ecology and EPA 2018 beach reports
Our 2018 health report shows how beaches performed.You'll find the top swimming beaches for water quality by county and beaches that did not meet swimming standards last year. You can read our 2018 beach water quality summary online. EPA also prepares a national summary of beach closings and advisories that states, territories, and tribes issued during the 2018 swimming season as well as data trends from 2013 to 2018.
Storm drains at shorelines
can be a source of bacteria.
According to EPA's report, the nation’s monitored coastal and Great Lakes beaches were open and safe for swimming 95 percent of the time during the 2018 swimming season, similar to previous years. You can read EPA’s BEACH Report: 2018 Swimming Season online.
Sewage spills and combined sewer overflows
When counties notify the Washington BEACH Program team of a sewage spill, we work with the county to preemptively issue a closure to water contact at affected beaches because we know that sewage is in the water. Depending on the volume of the spill, these closures will usually stay in place from 3 – 7 days.
Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv.
Good News! Jefferson County Health Department has lifted the no-contact advisory at Fort Worden State Park. Analysis of water samples collected recently found bacteria levels were low and safe for water contact.
Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH program manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
There are several beach closures that were caused by the estimated 3 million gallon sewage release in King County. Unrelated no-contact advisories are also going into effect and one beach advisory is being lifted. Ecology details about the spill are in our news release. Updates will be made to this blog if additional closures or openings occur. Beach closures are also available on our beach map at ecology.wa.gov/beaches. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Jefferson County: Multiple beach updates
Oak Bay County Park now open Jefferson County Health Department has lifted the no-contact advisory at Oak Bay County Park. Analysis of water samples collected found bacteria levels were low and safe for water contact. Fort Worden State Park under health advisory Jefferson County Department of Heath issued a no-contact advisory to water recreation at Fort Worden State Park beach. This advisory is due to high levels of fecal bacteria in the water. Signs have been posted at the beach to warn the public. This beach is being re-sampled and the advisory will stay in effect until bacterial levels have dropped to safe levels.
King County: Multiple beaches closed to water contact
An estimated 3 million gallons of sewage was released by a King County wastewater treatment plant. This release has prompted several beaches to be closed to water contact until further notice.
Update at 2:47 p.m., July 22 King County reopens Discovery Park: News release
Update at 3:30 p.m., July 19 King County has revised their list of beach closures to:
Discovery Park: North and South Beach
We previously reported the following beach closures nine beach closures which is listed below.
Previously reported beaches were not closed with the exception of Discovery Park:
Alki Beach Park
Carkeek Park
Discovery Park: North and South Beach
Elliott Bay Marina
Golden Gardens Park
Myrtle Edwards Park
Pocket Park at 32nd Ave. W. (also known as Magnolia Tidelands Park)
Port
of Seattle Terminal 91
Seacrest Park
Kitsap County: Multiple beaches closed to water contact
Update July 22: All Kitsap County beaches are open Kitsap County Health has closed beaches to water contact because of the King County sewage release. Modeling conducted by the Washington Department of Health shows that sewage from the King County incident will reach Kitsap beaches. The following beaches are closed from July 19 - July 22:
Fay Bainbridge Park
Indianola Dock
Joel Pritchard Park
Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us onFacebook, Twitter or join our listserv. Media can contact Camille St. Onge, communications, at 360-584-6501 or camille.st.onge@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Kitsap Public Health District issued a no-contact health advisory for the east shore of the Port Washington Narrows, between the Warren Avenue Bridge and Manette Bridge. This is due to a 1,500 to 2,000 gallon sewage spill from Seaglass Village Apartments. Signs have been posted at public access points and the public is advised to avoid contact with the water in those areas. This advisory will remain in effect through Sunday, July 21. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated on water quality at your beaches by following our Fecal Matters blog posts, connecting on Facebook, or joining our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Jefferson County Department of Heath issued a no-contact advisory to water recreation at Oak Bay County Park. This advisory is due to high levels of fecal bacteria in the water. Signs have been posted at the beach to warn the public. This beach is being re-sampled and the advisory will stay in effect until bacterial levels have dropped to safe levels. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses. Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv. Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Good News! Clallam County Health and Human Services has lifted the no-contact advisory at Salt Creek Recreation Area beach. Analysis of water samples collected yesterday found bacteria levels were low and safe for water contact.
Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Clallam County Health and Human Services issued a no-contact advisory to water recreation at Salt Creek Recreation Area. This advisory is due to high levels of fecal bacteria in the water. Signs have been posted at the beach to warn the public. This beach will be re-sampled next week to see if bacterial levels have dropped to safe levels. Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses. Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv. Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
Seattle and King County Public Health has lifted the no-contact advisory at Golden Gardens beach. Analysis of recent water samples collected by Seattle Public Utilities found bacteria levels were low and safe for water contact.
Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
June 27 update: The estimated amount of sewage overflow near Golden Gardens Park is 165,000 gallons. Additional water samples were taken on June 26 by Seattle Public Utilitiesand results are anticipated on June 27. You can get more updates by following Seattle Public Utilities' Twitter account. ---------------------------------- June 26 Seattle and King County Public Health issued a no-contact health advisory on June 26 at Golden Gardens due to a 16,500 gallon sewage overflow. Signs have been posted at public access points, and the public is advised to avoid contact with the water in the affected area.
Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated on water quality at your beaches by following our Fecal Matters blog posts, connecting on Facebook, or joining our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available to answer questions:
Phone: 360-407-6154 Email: julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov
The no-contact advisory at Bay View State Park in Padilla Bay has been lifted. Analysis of water samples collected this week found bacteria levels were low and safe for water contact.
Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.
Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by keeping up with us on our blog Fecal Matters, on Facebook, or join our listserv.
Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov for questions.
