Water quality counts

by; Linda Bacon

‘The term water quality has been used interchangeably with the concept of water clarity in Maine for
three decades or so. And until very recently, presence or absence of algal blooms provided a ‘barometer’ associated
with swimming enjoyment in a particular lake. Occasionally, someone might not feel well a day or two after a
swimming experience, but this might never be linked to the swimming experience.
Last year this changed. Two or three public freshwater swimming beaches were closed, two due to viral contamination,
the other due to bacterial contamination. These closures were widely publicized by the media and resulted
in scrambling on the part of both local and statewide health officials to evaluate the situation and communicate
results to the public. Over the winter, three state agencies (DEP, DHS and DMR) have been cooperating to provide
future guidance to individuals, local officials and each other.
Healthy swimming is becoming more of an issue in Maine for a
number of reasons. We have experienced warmer and dryer summers
over the past decade. Warmer water promotes bacterial
growth/survival. Dryer weather means that water in a swimming
area may not flush frequently. We also have a higher population in
many areas now. More people means more people swimming. It
may be that a swimming location can only ‘support’ so many bodies
over a given period of time without developing a health issue.
An additional consideration for this season is that folks may choose
to stay closer to home for their vacations. This might be great for
Maine’s tourism industry, but it may put a pressure on our freshwater
beaches unlike any we’ve had in the past.
As a volunteer monitor in your community, you may be asked about
this issue or may have the opportunity to bring it to the
attention of local officials and private beach operators.
The first defense is education about swimming
hygiene. Many of us have taken swimming lessons
in a private pool and have been required to shower
before entering the water. (As a kid I thought this
rule was ridiculous. After all, I was going to get wet
anyway...why bother with a shower?) The same routine should be
followed when swimming at a public beach. The national Center for
Disease Control has published a list of ‘pleas’ to promote healthy
swimming (please refer to “Healthy Swimming Tips”).
Weather resistant signs should be available to post at swimming
areas. A strategy for monitoring bacteria is being developed for
beach managers to follow. The list of Healthy Swimming ‘Pleas’ will
be distributed to towns for reproduction at the town’s discretion. A
set of town response guidelines and state response guidelines based
on last year’s experiences, are being drafted so that the ‘wheel not
need to be reinvented’ each time this health issue arises. This website
will be updated as these items become available. I encourage
you to visit the site and share the site address with others in your
community.
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Quality Counts!
Linda Bacon, Maine DEP Advisor
Additional information is being assembled
and much of it is being posted at the
following website:
http://www.state.me.us/dep/blwq/docbeacha