CP-2002-02
Microbial indicators of marine recreational water quality
Fujioka, Roger S.
The value of coastal waters is clearly evident from the observation that nearly two-thirds of the world’s population make their homes within 150 km of the shore (31). The obvious advantages of living near coastal areas are a moderate climate, ease of transportation, sources of food, and jobs. However, when people live near coastal water, they also develop social and cultural values associated with coastal waters (20). More recently, people have recognized the esthetic and recreational values of coastal waters. As a result, people today travel long distances to spend their valuable vacation time at coastal water sites which are especially suitable for swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and fishing. To meet all of these values of coastal waters, there has been a dramatic increase in the building of cities, industries, homes, hotels, restaurants, shops, parks, harbors, and many tourist-related facilities in coastal areas. Unfortunately, these activities, along with the commensurate increase in population, inevitably result in increased production of point source pollution such as sewage and industrial discharges as well as nonpoint source pollution such as agricultural and urban runoff, especially storm drains. In coastal areas, these kinds of pollution generally discharge into and pollute coastal waters (40). Recognizing this problem, effective environmental regulations have been implemented to properly treat and dispose of point source discharges. However, nonpoint source discharges have generally not been regulated, and therefore these kinds of discharges are not treated and pollute shoreline coastal waters, often in close proximity to waters designated for swimming. In this regard, a recent report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the water quality at 40% of the nation’s recreational waters is unsuitable for swimming and that contamination is due primarily to nonpoint source pollution (Beach Watch website: http://www.epa.gov/ost/beaches). Today, many of our popular beaches are susceptible to pollution, and the suitability of these waters for swimming is often questioned. Diseases acquired from recreational use of waters are of great concern to city officials, public health agencies, and the tourism industry. To address this concern, expensive programs have been implemented to control coastal water pollution, to establish water quality standards, and to constantly monitor these waters to ensure that recreational waters designated for swimming are suitable for swimming.