Municipal Guide To Clean Water: Conducting Sanitary Surveys to Improve Coastal Water Quality

摘要

The greatest cause of coastal water quality impairment is bacteria.1 Elevated bacteria levels may indicate risks to human health, leading to advisories and/or closures of valued coastal beaches and shellfish growing areas. Currently, two programs in Maine assess coastal water quality and identify potential pollution sources. The Maine Healthy Beaches (MHB) Program is a statewide effort to monitor water quality and protect public health on Maines coastal beaches. Funding is provided by the US EPA, and beaches are managed according to established bacteria standards for marine recreational waters. The MHB Program is a unique partnership among municipalities, state parks, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal agencies. In 2009, 28 municipalities and state parks participated in the MHB program with 60 beach management areas routinely monitored Memorial Day through Labor Day.