Fecal Matters: No-contact advisory issued for Appletree Cove, Kitsap County

BEACH program update

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.

Fecal Matters: Health advisories issued for two beaches in Jefferson County & Dakwas Beach opened

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. 

Fecal Matters: Water contact advisory issued for Herb Beck Marina, Jefferson County

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. 

Fecal Matters: How'd your beach do in 2016?

Curious to see how your favorite beach fared for healthy swimming last year? See how the 2016 swimming season stacked up. In the BEACH Program 2016 Annual Report you'll find the top swimming beaches for water quality, beach water quality by county, and beaches that did not meet swimming standards.

Click to view the 2016 Annual BEACH Report

See the good, the best, and the "poopy" marine swimming beaches for last year. Did your favorite beach make the list for the top swimming beaches? Or, did it make the list of beaches that were closed to recreation due to high levels of fecal bacteria?

Why does it matter?

Anyone who uses marine beaches for recreational purposes such as swimming, scuba diving, surfing, or kayaking can be exposed to illness associated with water contaminated by sewage.

Contact with fecal contaminated waters can results in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.

How does poop get in the water? 

Fecal bacteria get into the water in a number of ways. Some of it is natural, and a small amount of fecal bacteria does not pose a threat to public health.

Water at a beach can rise to an unhealthy level for many reasons. These include septic tanks that are not properly maintained, large amounts of sewage discharged from sewers overflowing during heavy rain or recreational boaters, wild animals congregating due to people feeding them, dogs pooping on beaches, used diapers being left on the beach, and others.

Click to learn how you can help keep your beach clean for swimming.

More about BEACH

The Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication, and Health program, nicknamed BEACH for short, monitors marine beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This program is a joint effort with the Washington State Department of Health, county and local agencies, tribal nations, and volunteers.

The BEACH program helps keep swimmers healthy on the coast and across Puget Sound by testing marine beaches for fecal bacteria and issuing public beach closure notices if the results show the water might pose a health risk. BEACH does not test freshwater beaches located on rivers and lakes.

Click the map to see if your beach is open.
Remember, many beaches are only monitored Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by subscribing to our Fecal Matters RSS feed, checking the beach closure map on Coastal Atlas, or joining our email listserv. Contact BEACH program manager Julianne Ruffner with questions.

Fecal Matters: How'd your beach do in 2015?

Curious to see how your favorite beach fared for healthy swimming last year? See how the 2015 swimming season stacked up. In the BEACH Program 2015 Annual Report you'll find the top swimming beaches for water quality, beach water quality by county, and beaches that did not meet swimming standards.

View the BEACH Program 2015 Annual Report

See the good, the best, and the "poopy" marine swimming beaches for last year. Did your favorite beach make the list for the top swimming beaches? Or, did it make the list of beaches that were closed to recreation due to high levels of fecal bacteria?

Why does it matter?

Anyone who uses marine beaches for recreational purposes such as swimming, scuba diving, surfing or kayaking can be exposed to illness associated with water contaminated by sewage.

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.

How does poop get in the water?

Fecal bacteria get into the water in a number of ways. Some of it is natural, and a small amount of fecal bacteria does not pose a threat to public health.

Water at a beach can rise to an unhealthy level for many reasons. These include septic tanks that are not properly maintained, large amounts of sewage discharged from sewers overflowing during heavy rain or recreational boaters, wild animals congregating due to people feeding them, dogs pooping on beaches, used diapers being left on the beach, and others.

More about BEACH

The Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication, and Health program, nicknamed BEACH for short, monitors marine beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This program is a joint effort with the Washington State Department of Health and county and local agencies, tribal nations, and volunteers.

The BEACH program helps keep swimmers healthy on the coast and across Puget Sound by testing marine beaches for fecal bacteria and issuing public beach closure notices if the results show the water might pose a health risk. BEACH does not test freshwater beaches located on rivers and lakes.

Click the map to see if your beach is open.
Remember, many beaches are only monitored Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by subscribing to our Fecal Matters RSS feed, checking the beach closure map on Coastal Atlas, or joining our listserv. Contact BEACH program manager Debby Sargeant with questions.

Fecal Matters: 2014 marine swimming beach results are in!

Curious to see how your favorite beach fared for healthy swimming last year? See how the 2014 swimming season stacked up. In the BEACH Program 2014 Annual Report you'll find the top swimming beaches for water quality, beach water quality by county, and beaches that did not meet swimming standards.

View the BEACH Program 2014 Annual Report

See the good, the best, and the "poopy" marine swimming beaches for 2014. Did your favorite beach make the list for the top swimming beaches? Or, did it make the list of beaches that were closed to recreation due to high levels of fecal bacteria?

Why does it matter?

Anyone who uses marine beaches for recreational purposes such as swimming, scuba diving, surfing or kayaking can be exposed to illness associated with water contaminated by sewage. 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.

How does poop get in the water?

Fecal bacteria get into the water in a number of ways. Some of it is natural, and a small amount of fecal bacteria does not pose a threat to public health. Water at a beach can rise to an unhealthy level for many reasons.

These include septic tanks that are not properly maintained, large amounts of sewage discharged from sewers overflowing during heavy rain or recreational boaters, wild animals congregating due to people feeding them, dogs pooping on beaches, used diapers being left on the beach, and others. Learn how you can help keep your beach clean on our website.

More about BEACH

The Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication, and Health program, nicknamed BEACH for short, monitors marine beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This program is a joint effort with the Washington State Department of Health and county and local agencies, tribal nations, and volunteers.

The BEACH program helps keep swimmers healthy on the coast and across Puget Sound by testing marine beaches for fecal bacteria and issuing public beach closure notices if the results show the water might pose a health risk. BEACH does not test freshwater beaches located on rivers and lakes.

Click the map to see if your beach is open.
Remember, many beaches are only monitored Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Stay updated about water quality at your beaches by subscribing to our Fecal Matters RSS feed, checking the beach closure map on Coastal Atlas, or joining our listserv. You can contact the BEACH program manager Debby Sargeant with questions.

Fecal Matters: How we’re protecting your summer beach experience

Len Adams and Janice Jensen of Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

By Sandy Howard, communication manager, Environmental Assessment Program

The next time you get your feet wet at any of our state’s popular saltwater beaches, you might want to know that there are people working behind-the-scenes to keep the water healthy for you and your friends and family.

It’s a behind-the-scenes, little-known service we provide.

We think it’s an important story to tell.

During the past year, the Washington state BEACHProgram and its local partner, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, discovered a significant fecal bacteria problem in Puget Sound’s Marine Park near the Les Davis Pier on the Ruston Way waterfront.

Why it matters

This is a big deal for you because if you come in contact with fecal-contaminated waters, you can get a bad stomach ache called gastroenteritis. You could also get skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, or other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.

Did you know?

The state’s BEACH Program this summer is testing 58 of the state’s most popular saltwater beaches for bacteria to help people avoid getting sick from playing in the water.

The federally funded, state-run BEACH (Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication and Health) Program notifies the public when beaches are a health risk and educates people about ways to avoid getting sick from playing in saltwater.

BEACH enlists help from many partners, mostly local health departments, to collect water samples and get them laboratory tested.

When BEACH finds bacteria problems, BEACH not only protects the public by notifying them about closures, but it works with local jurisdictions to clean up the area.

A real example

Just about a year ago, on May 24, 2013, through BEACH, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department issued a no-contact advisory for the waters at Cummings Park and Marine Park along Ruston Way in Tacoma due to high bacteria counts.

The public was warned to make no contact with water until further notice.This was a big deal. The waters here are popular for scuba diving and paddle boarding.

To its credit, the city of Tacoma, in coordination with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, got busy and quickly found the source of the problem. It turned out that there was a blocked sewage pipe that was serving several homes located on the hillside above Marine Park.

“We work very hard to protect water quality,” said Tacoma Environmental Services Director Mike Slevin. “Once alerted we were able to respond and fix issues and concerns very quickly.”

The clogged pipe had been clogged for some time. By the time the sewage sleuthing ended, the city identified a large area of land that needed to be cleaned up, including land owned and operated by a railroad company.

Debby Sargeant, who runs the BEACH Program, said: “The sewage overflow was going into a ditch line alongside the railroad tracks.”

Thankfully, BEACH and their local partners found the problem.

In early October 2013, the city of Tacoma cleaned the sewage spill by removing soils.

It was costly, but the health department received $5,600 in National Estuary Program (NEP) funds to help pay for its routine sampling at Ruston, as well investigation and coordination work regarding the sewage overflow. The funding also helped pay for other community outreach efforts.

The beach is open to the public and the Health Department has removed the advisory signs.

All is well now, so we can play once again in these waters.

You can thank your government – it stepped in to protect us.

Learn more

You can follow the latest beach closure at Ecology’s Twitter handle @ecologyWA

Sign up to receive BEACH’s email alerts at:  http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=BEACH or follow our blog series,“Fecal Matters,” which contains the latest information about saltwater beach closures and openings.

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Update about making Puget Sound a No Discharge Zone for vessel sewage

By Sandy Howard, communication manager, Water Quality Program

It’s time to get back to you about our idea to ask that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency make Puget Sound, including Lake Washington, Lake Union and the Lake Washington Ship Canal, off limits to discharging sewage from vessels.

The proposed no discharge zone is part of the state Puget Sound Partnership’s Action Agenda to restore and protect water quality in Washington’s inland marine waters.

One of many actions to help Puget Sound

We are taking on pollution problems on many fronts. This move would join other pollution prevention tactics we’re using, such as finding and fixing failing septic systems, dealing with pet waste, treating our municipal wastewater, and managing our polluted stormwater runoff.

In April, Ecology completed its public comment period on the proposal to potentially establish a no discharge zone. We received more than 26,000 comments in support and about 600 who identified concerns.

We’re currently summarizing the comments. And we’re continuing to work with people who have a variety of viewpoints on the topic.

It will take time

Our goal is to shape a thoughtful proposal. It will take time to do this right. We currently estimate it will be about a year before we make our recommendation to EPA on whether we'll move forward with a no discharge zone or what form it should take.

We plan to consider all input to inform our decision. And, we expect EPA to convene its own public process prior to making a final decision on any no discharge zone.

Thanks for your comments

Most of all we thank everybody for taking time to let us know your thoughts.

Here are a few points we’d like to reiterate:

• There are more than 80 no discharge zones in 26 states. This would be the first one for Washington.
  
• Boat sewage may be small in volume compared to other pollution sources, but this pollution source is not stationary – vessels and their sewage discharges can move into or near sensitive waters placing water quality and public health at risk.
• The draft proposal would affect a limited number of boats overall that need to retrofit. We plan to give vessels the time they need to comply. For example, we propose that tugs and commercial fishing vessels have three years to retrofit their boats with holding tanks, allowing for costs to be phased in and financed over time.
• Some have suggested a partial no discharge zone be adopted – and only make certain areas off limits to vessel sewage. Research tells us that this piecemeal approach has not worked well in other states as it tends to create “dumping zones.”
• Research shows that there is more than adequate pump-out capacity for recreational boaters. For commercial boaters, most discharge at sea and others can use mobile pump-outs, certain dedicated pump-outs, or pumper trucks.
• And, we are exploring options to include more commercial, stationary pump out facilities.

Most boaters already practice good stewardship and keep their vessel sewage discharges from getting into our waters. Establishing a no discharge zone would ensure that is true for all vessels.

After all, when it comes down to clean water, we’re all in the same boat.

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