« Update: Derderian defense team will attack fire marshal's credibility | Today | Tomorrow: Ozone alert, Day 3 »

August 2, 2006

Are boaters to blame for high bacteria levels?

High levels of bacteria, particularly in Greenwich Bay, have the state Department of Health wondering whether weekend boaters are disposing of sewage as they should.

Legally, boaters are supposed to discharge the sewage from their vessels at sewage treatment centers or at pump-out stations at various marinas, according to Ernest Julian, chief of the Health Department’s Office of Food Protection, which also regulates the state's beaches.

Typically, levels of bacteria high enough to require the Health Department to close beaches follow days of heavy rain, Julian says. But recent high bacteria levels – on these hot, sticky heat-wave days – are not the result of too much rain, he said.

“The only thing we have right now as a plausible reason is boaters,” he said.

Three beaches today remain closed per the Health Department, after being on the closure list yesterday, Julian said. They are City Park Beach in Warwick, Atlantic Beach Club Beach, in Middletown, and Warren Town Beach.

Julian said that such a hot day is the "worst day for a beach closure."

Also, two pond beaches – Browning Mill Pond, in Exeter, and Gorton Pond in Warwick – remain closed. High bacteria levels there are likely the result of waterfowl pollution, Julian said.

The Health Department is continuously updating and changing its beach closure page and will continue to do so as water tests come back from various labs, Julian said.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson  at 4:27 PM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)