Twice as Many Beaches Are Closed by Pollution Amid More Stringent Tests

The number of beach closures in California and across the nation nearly doubled last year, according to a new report released Wednesday that attributed the jump primarily to more stringent pollution testing of recreational waters.

The Natural Resources Defense Council study, based largely on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data, found 11,270 beach closures and pollution warnings across the country last year. In California, where coastal tourism is a $54-billion industry, beaches were closed or had warnings 5,780 times.

But the study’s authors stressed that the increase doesn’t necessarily mean waters are dirtier. Rather, the data reflect the increasing regulation of water-safety standards in California and beyond that have government agencies testing beaches with greater frequency and doing more to alert the public about possible health hazards.

“The lion’s share of the increase relates to more testing, with the theory being proven that the more you look, the more you find,” said David Beckman, a senior attorney with the advocacy group’s Los Angeles office.

California accounted for just over half of the nation’s total closures and postings, which is not surprising considering the state has the strictest testing requirements in the United States.

All beaches in California with more than 50,000 annual visitors must be tested at least once a week from April 1 to Oct. 31--far more often than in most states. Some counties go even further. For example, Orange County tests 95 spots along its coast year-round anywhere from one to five times a week.

“We’re way ahead of the rest of the country,” said Assemblyman Howard Wayne (D-San Diego) at a news conference in Santa Monica. “But it’s only the first step. Ultimately what we must do is prevent the contamination from reaching here.” Wayne wrote the testing legislation, which took effect in mid-1999.

Officials said this year’s study will provide a benchmark to compare closures in coming years, allowing analysis on whether pollution is increasing or decreasing.

Urban runoff is the primary source of coastal pollution across the nation. The toxic brew of lawn fertilizer, pet waste, motor oil and other contaminants is swept off lawns and streets into storm drains and waterways that flow into the ocean. The problem is particularly acute in Southern California. Los Angeles has one of the worst runoff problems in the nation, at times releasing a plume that reaches Catalina Island, 26 miles distant.

Other causes of beach closures, according to the report, include leaky sewer lines, and to a lesser extent, algal blooms and wildlife waste.

Every county in Southern California reported major jumps in the number of closures and postings with the notable exception of Santa Barbara County, which had a 34% decline, to 913 closures and postings.

David Brummond, a supervising environmental health specialist with Santa Barbara County, said the decrease could be tied to less rainfall last year, which reduced the amount of runoff flowing into the ocean.

Elsewhere in Southern California, some of the most frequently polluted beaches cited in the study include stretches of Long Beach, Newport Bay, Santa Monica State Beach, Will Rogers State Beach, Surfrider Beach, Cabrillo Beach, Huntington State Beach and Redondo Beach.

Natural Resources Defense Council attorney Heather Hoecherl said now that the scope of the problem has been well-defined, government agencies must step up efforts to fix the problem.

One example--the site of Wednesday’s news conference to release the report--is the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility. The $12-million plant cleans up 500,000 gallons of urban runoff each day, about 90% of the city’s runoff on a dry day. The clean runoff is then used as irrigation water and for limited purposes such as toilet water in commercial buildings, said Craig Perkins, director of environment and public works in Santa Monica.

Still, Hoecherl said: “This is not a panacea for solving the problem of beach water pollution in its entirety. There is no silver bullet.”

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The Water’s Not Fine

A report by the Natural Resources Defense Council shows an increase in beach closures across the state and nation, primarily because of more frequent and more stringent testing. Santa Barbara stands alone among Southland counties with a decreasing number of closures.

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Monitoring

Last year California led in closings/advisories among the 11 states that have comprehensive monitoring.

California: at least 5,780

Ohio: 501

Connecticut: at least 397

Indiana: 341

North Carolina: 128

Illinois: 103

Pennsylvania: 41

New Jersey: 33

New Hampshire: 21

Hawaii: 15

Delaware: 5

U.S.: 11,270

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Closings/Advisories

by county

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2000 1999 Change Los Angeles 1,266 460 175% Orange 881 502 75 San Diego 1,349 685 97 Santa Barbara 913 1,392 -34 Ventura 856 257 233

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Extended Closings/Advisories

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2000 1999 Los Angeles 0 0 Orange 7 2 San Diego 8 0 Santa Barbara 0 7 Ventura 0 1

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Total extended days

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2000 1999 Los Angeles 0 0 Orange 354 135 San Diego 463 0 Santa Barbara 0 365 Ventura 0 65

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Source: Natural Resources Defense Council