Fecal Matters: Water contact advisory issued for Dakwas Beach Park, Clallam County

The Makah Beach Program issued a water contact health advisory for Dakwas Park
Beach in Clallam County. This advisory was issued on Sept. 18 due to high levels of fecal bacteria in the water. The public is advised to avoid contact with the water until further notice.

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 Dakwas Beach Park, Clallam County

The Makah Beach Program issued a water contact health advisory for Dakwas Park Beach in Clallam County. This advisory was issued on Aug. 16 due to high levels of fecal bacteria in the water. The beach will be sampled again next week to determine if bacteria levels have decreased. The public is advised to avoid contact with the water until further notice.

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: No-contact advisory issued for Golden Gardens, King County

BEACH program update

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 Utilities and 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

Fecal Matters: 2019 beach list open for public comment

Make a comment on this year's beach list!

The state’s BEACH Program will soon begin testing Washington’s most popular saltwater beaches for bacteria to help people avoid getting sick from playing in the water. This program is implemented by local health agencies, tribal nations, non-profits, and coordinated volunteer groups.

The proposed list of beaches that will be tested in 2019 can be found here: 2019 draft beach list

Testing will occur weekly or bi-weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. We are accepting public comments through May 3, 2019, on the proposed list of beaches to be tested.

More about BEACH

Learn about program updates, education, high bacteria counts, and beach closures by keeping up with us on Facebook, checking the beach closure map on Coastal Atlas, subscribing to our Fecal Matters RSS feed, or joining our email listserv. Contact BEACH Program Manager, Julianne Ruffner, with questions.

Fecal Matters: Heavy rainfall can increase health risks for surfers, divers, and other beachgoers



We had a great summer for water sports enthusiasts, but as we transition into the rainy season, surfers, divers, and other winter beachgoers should be aware of potential rising bacteria levels at their favorite beaches. After heavy rainfall, bacteria levels in beach water could rise.

What causes bacteria levels to rise?

Water runoff from heavy rain drains into nearby lakes, rivers, and saltwater beaches. This runoff can carry unsafe levels of fecal bacteria to water bodies from sewage system overflows and animal waste.

Don’t be scared, be aware!

Anyone who comes in contact with winter ocean water should be aware of the potential health risks associated with heavy rain. This includes the following types of beachgoers:

Keep an eye out for pipes or streams that

drain directly to the beach.

• Surfers
• Divers
• Kayakers
• Paddle boarders
• Boaters
• Walkers
• Dog walkers
• Seashell collectors
• Sand castle builders

Contact with fecal-contaminated water, shells, or sand can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses. 

Protect yourself and others

It’s easy to prevent these illnesses. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that you and your family stay healthy this winter:

• Avoid contact with fresh or marine water after a heavy rain.
• Avoid water recreation for 24 hours after heavy rainfall.
• Be aware of areas with pipes or streams that drain directly to the beach. 
• Pick up pet waste.
• Watch your dog at the beach; make sure they don’t drink the water.
• Remember to wash your hands before eating or preparing food, especially after a trip to the beach.

For more information about the water quality at your beaches, follow our blog, Facebook page, or LISTSERV.

Fecal Matters: 2018 beach list available for your review

The state’s BEACH Program will soon begin testing the state’s most popular saltwater beaches for bacteria to help people avoid getting sick from playing in the water. The program is implemented by local health agencies, tribal nations, non-profits, and coordinated volunteers groups.

The proposed 2018 list of beaches that will be tested can be found here:

2018 draft beach list

Testing will occur weekly or bi-weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. We are accepting public comments on the proposed list of beaches to be tested until May 1, 2018.

Send your comments to julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov, or call 360-407-6154.

More about BEACH

Learn about program updates, education, high bacteria counts, and beach closures by keeping up with us on Facebook, checking the beach closure map on Coastal Atlas, subscribing to our Fecal Matters RSS feed, or joining our email listserv. Contact BEACH Program Manager Julianne Ruffner with questions.

Fecal Matters: How'd your beach do in 2017?

Curious to see how your favorite beach fared for healthy swimming last year? See how the 2017 swimming season stacked up. In the BEACH Program 2017 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 2017 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 here 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: Dakwas Park Beach, Neah Bay is OPEN for water recreation, Makah Beach Program, Clallam County

BEACH Program Update

April 6, 2017, Dakwas Beach Park in Neah Bay is open for swimming and water contact recreation. Recent water sampling showed that bacteria levels were low and safe for swimming.

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: 2017 beach list available for your review

The state’s BEACH Program will soon begin testing the state’s most popular saltwater beaches for bacteria to help people avoid getting sick from playing in the water. The program is implemented by local health agencies, tribal nations, university coordinators, non-profits, and volunteers.

The proposed 2017 list of beaches that will be tested can be found here:

2017 draft beach list

Testing will occur weekly or bi-weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. We are accepting public comments on the proposed list of beaches to be tested until May 1, 2017.

Send your comments to julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov, or call 360-407-6154.

More about BEACH

Learn about program updates, education, high bacteria counts, and beach closures by keeping up with us on Facebook, checking the beach closure map on Coastal Atlas, subscribing to our Fecal Matters RSS feed, or joining our email listserv. Contact BEACH Program Manager Julianne Ruffner with 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.

Pollution solution: Keep a clean beach, help keep shellfish harvests open

There’s poop on Washington beaches. Bird poop. Fish poop. Insect poop. Dog poop. Cat poop. And yes, there is people poop, too.

North Beach has suffered several shellfish harvest closures due to dangerously-high levels of fecal bacteria.

Beach poop comes in all shapes and sizes, but the vast majority is invisible. Beach poop can originate from many different sources, both human and animal. But whether it comes from humans, our pets and horses, or wildlife it adds fecal coliform bacteria to our beaches and shellfish beds. This directly affects our ability to harvest and enjoy razor clams.

Beach poop is everyone’s business. 

New beach study pinpoints sources

A new study released by our Environmental Assessment Program identifies levels of contamination and main sources of fecal coliform bacteria pollution along the Pacific coast--from Ocean Shores to the Moclips River--and offers solutions that residents and visitors can use to keep beaches safe from this problem. High levels of fecal coliform bacteria not only impact shellfish beds, but can make people and pets sick from exposure to contaminated water.

The North Beach Bacteria Study is a collaboration between Ecology, Washington Department of Health, the Quinault Indian Nation and local governments. Its aim is to improve downgraded shellfish areas and protect those that currently meet water quality standards.

“Maintaining healthy beaches and shellfish beds is everyone’s business,” says Lydia Wagner, our project coordinator on the study. “Beachgoers must be responsible for their own activities that contribute to bacteria pollution.”

The North Beach area receives tens of thousands of visitors during the summer months and clam digs, which creates an intermittent, heavy-use impact on beaches.

Do your part to keep the beach clean

For beach tourists, the study offers three easy tips they can use to keep Washington beaches clean and limit bacteria problems in shellfish areas:

1. Bag your pet waste and properly dispose of it
2. Pack out your picnic trash
3. Don’t feed wildlife

Learn more tips to be a good beach steward on our website. 

Local residents are also encouraged to maintain their home’s septic system. Regular maintenance supports clean beaches and helps avoid costly repairs later.

Dig deeper into the science

The study is the first step in creating a great resource for those interested in protecting Washington’s coastal beaches. Residents will understand how a damaged septic system can harm the beaches they love. Visitors will understand why packing out the beach poop, whether it’s actual poop or common litter, is important to maintaining the safe and healthy beaches they love to visit. 

There is a simple solution to the problem of common beach pollution: bag it up and pack it out.

By: Dave Bennett, communications manager

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: 2016 beach list available for your review

The state’s BEACH Program will soon begin testing the state’s most popular saltwater beaches for bacteria to help people avoid getting sick from playing in the water. The program is implemented by local health agencies, tribal nations, university coordinators, non-profits, and volunteers.

The proposed 2016 list of beaches that will be tested can be found here: 

2016 draft beach list

Testing will occur weekly or bi-weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The program is accepting public comments about the proposed beach list until May 1, 2016.

Send your comments to debby.sargeant@ecy.wa.gov, or call (360) 407-6139.

More about BEACH

Learn about program updates, education, high bacteria counts, and beach closures by keeping up with us on Facebook, checking the beach closure map on Coastal Atlas, subscribing to our Fecal Matters RSS feed, or joining our listserv. The BEACH Program Manager Debby Sargeant is available for questions.

Investigation underway into Padden Creek sewage spill

Last week, an unfortunate sewage spill occurred at Padden Creek in Bellingham. While doing construction work, a city of Bellingham contractor mistakenly rerouted a sewage line to a stormwater line that discharges to Padden Creek. An Ecology Washington Conservation Corps crew spotted and reported the spill on Feb. 25, while working in the area.  

Recently restored Padden Creek in Bellingham

The city and contractor corrected the misconnection, and the city and Whatcom County Health Department issued public notices about the incident. The city is providing updates on the cleanup efforts.

This sewage spill was especially concerning for many people in the community who follow or are involved in the restoration of Padden Creek. We have received calls and emails from people who are disheartened by the spill and want to know what we’re doing as a result.

We are conducting a full investigation of the spill, and the city’s contractors are cooperating with us. Staff in our Bellingham office are working to understand how exactly the spill occurred and what needs to happen to prevent similar errors in the future.

Sewer misconnections are just one example of the many challenges that hamper our community’s efforts to prevent fecal contamination from entering our lakes, creeks and bays. Other examples include failing septic systems and animal waste. That’s why the state has provided grants to cities to sleuth out such misconnections. Across Washington, communities are mapping their stormwater systems and sometimes finding that mistakes, particularly in historic parts of town. And this is just one slice of the work needed.

Ecology will continue to follow up on the Padden Creek spill, and we’ll keep you informed as we do. Meanwhile, everyone can continue to help our waters, from contractors to farmers, homeowners and pet owners. We need to work closely with the city’s public works department, manage our animal and pet waste, and make sure our septic systems are properly maintained. With renewed attention, continued collaboration, and compliance action when needed, our community can better protect human health and the environment.  Let us know if you have concerns, or ideas on how to help.

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.