U.S. Standard Is Needed for U.S. Beaches : * Congress Should Push for Consistent Monitoring, Public-Notification Requirements

At first glance, the news about California’s beaches looks a bit better this year in the Natural Resources Defense Council’s annual survey of U.S. beaches. California beaches reported fewer closures in 1992 than in 1991, “at least” 609 instead of 745. But that qualifier, “at least,” speaks volumes not only about the dangerous water quality along too many U.S. beaches but the sad state of reporting as well.

California’s beach-closing figures may be significantly understated because San Diego, which accounted for 51% of all closings in the state during 1991, provided little data on beach closings or advisories last year. San Diego is not the only city or state reluctant to do so. Several coastal states monitor ocean and bay beach water quality for swimmers only infrequently, if ever. Indeed, in some parts of the country less monitoring was conducted in 1992 than in prior years due to budget cutbacks.

Yet the enormous health risk posed by continuing contamination of ocean waters remains. High levels of bacteria are responsible for the majority of the more than 2,600 beach closings or advisories NRDC reported last year. This bacterial contamination, often from sewage discharges, causes gastroenteritis, dysentery and even hepatitis.

In Orange County, 1993 began ominously, with the closing of a five-mile stretch of beach from Dana Point to San Clemente as 2 million gallons of raw sewage a day poured into the ocean from a ruptured sewer line along Oso Creek. It showed that the protection of the coastline may be only as secure as the weakest point in a sewage line subjected to a mudslide from heavy rain.

National water quality standards, and consistent monitoring and public-notification requirements would go far toward improving the quality of the nation’s beaches--and of public health. Legislation to do that is before Congress. It should pass before the beaches open next summer.