Citation:

WADE, T. J., R. L. CALDERON, M. J. BEACH, E. A. SAMS, K. P. BRENNER, AND A. P. DUFOUR. PROTECTING HEALTH WITH SAME DAY WATER QUALITY MONITORING RESULTS FOR BATHING BEACHES. Presented at Annual Meeting, Great Lakes Beach Association, Green Bay, WI, November 02 - 03, 2005.

Impact/Purpose:

The objectives of this research are: (1) to evaluate rapid state-of-the-art measuement methods of pathogens that may indicate the presence of fecal pollution in recreational waters (beaches); (2) to obtain, jointly with a sister laboratory (NHEERL), a new set of water quality data and related health effects data at a variety of beaches across the U.S., in both marine and non-marine waters; (3) to analyze the research data set to evaluate the utility of the tested measurement methods, the new EMPACT monitoring protocol, and the health effects data / questionnaire, in order to establish a relationship between measured pathogens and observed health effects; and (4) to communicate the results to the Office of Water in support of their efforts to develop new state and/or federal guidelines and limits for water quality indicators of fecal contamination, so that beach managers and public health officials can alert the public about the potential health hazards before exposure to unsafe water can occur.

Description:

Current US Environmental Protection Agency guidelines recommend the use of cultural methods for E. coli and enterococci to monitor beach water quality. The guidelines recommend a single sample value or a geometric mean value from at least five samples. The single sample guideline is used by many authorities who wish to monitor bathing beach waters on a daily basis. Methods used to monitor beach waters on a daily basis, however, produce results in 24 hours, long after swimming exposures occur. This shortcoming in current monitoring practices for measuring beach water quality has led EPA to develop new analytical technology and indicators that will provide rapid measurement of beach waters.

Record Details: