Thousands of beaches across America have pollution that can make swimmers sick. In some cases, that pollution comes from sewage overflows. But water utilities are lobbying Congress to let them keep polluting. Tell your representative: Protect our beaches. ADD YOUR NAME:
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Anonymous,
A summer trip to the beach shouldn't make you sick.
But thousands of beaches across the country are polluted with harmful bacteria -- in many cases from stormwater runoff and sewage overflows. And now, water utilities are lobbying Congress to allow sewage plants to continue polluting our waters.
Tell Congress to stand up for clean beaches.
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A new study by our national research partner Environment America Research & Policy Center found that at more than 500 beach sites, the water had levels of fecal bacteria that can make swimmers sick on at least one-quarter of the days tested.[1]
The study looked at testing results from more than 4,000 beaches, including from both coasts and the Great Lakes. At nearly 57 percent of them, the water contained bacteria at levels the Environmental Protection Agency says can make swimmers sick.[2]
Fecal bacteria indicates the presence of pathogens in water that can make people sick -- and does so in an estimated 57 million cases each year.[3]
Under the Clean Water Act, permits for sewage plants must be reviewed every five years so that we can reduce pollution where needed and help keep our waters safe for swimming. But water utilities are now lobbying for a new measure that would extend that period to 10 years, leaving sewage dischargers operating for a decade or more at long-outdated pollution control standards.[4]
All of this boils down to one thing: More bacteria polluting our beaches and putting our health at risk.
Congress should be doing more to keep our water clean, not weakening the protections we already have. Tell your representative: No more sewage pollution.
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From investing in cleanup to building green infrastructure, we should be doing more to keep our waters clean. The last thing we need to do is allow more sewage overflow in our waters.
Thank you for making it all possible.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Bassett
Senior Associate
1. "Safe for Swimming? Water Quality at Our Beaches," Environment America, last accessed August 7, 2019.
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2. "Safe for Swimming? Water Quality at Our Beaches," Environment America, last accessed August 7, 2019.
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3. "Safe for Swimming? Water Quality at Our Beaches," Environment America, last accessed August 7, 2019.
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4. "H.R.1764 - To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to permitting terms, and for other purposes," Congress.gov, last accessed July 19, 2019.
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