Testing the Waters in San Francisco: It Pays to be a Fair Weather Surfer

Some of my hardcore surf buddies scoff when I refuse to set a toe in the ocean after a rain.  Maybe I’m a little too cautious, avoiding beaches close to the city even when it’s sprinkling – it’s the big rain storms that wash the most pollution and sewage into the ocean.

But the release of NRDC’s 20th annual beachwater quality report, Testing the Waters, is a good reminder that Bay Area beaches are often not safe for swimming or surfing after a rain. Even a mild rain can cause pollution to wash into the ocean and make us seriously sick.  As much as I love getting in the water, being cautious pays off.

It’s no big secret that city (and suburban) streets are dirty. Trash, bacteria, toxins, and unfortunately, fecal matter build up in the streets; when it rains, urban, impermeable landscapes cause rainwater to run off into storm drains and waterways – carrying pollution with it. A lot of this rainwater ends up at our beaches, where humans can be exposed to the contamination without even knowing it.

Think about it this way: you walk on city streets, but you wouldn’t want to lick the bottom of your shoes, right?  Would you really want to swim in water that has been polluted with the same urban grime?

Beachwater pollution nationwide causes a range of waterborne illnesses in swimmers including stomach flu, skin rashes, pinkeye, ear, nose and throat problems, dysentery, hepatitis, respiratory ailments, neurological disorders and other serious health problems.  When beach managers determine that water contamination exceeds health standards – or in some cases even when they suspect this to be the case, such as after heavy rain – they notify the public through beach closures or advisories.

NRDC’s report found that in California as a whole, there was a 30% decrease in closing and advisory days at our state’s beaches last year compared to 2008. While that sounds like great news, there is still reason to be cautious. In northern California counties, the number of closing and advisory days actually increased dramatically in 2009. This was largely due to heavy rains in October 2009 (which sent lots of pollution headed toward our beaches) and the bunker fuel spill in San Francisco Bay on October 30, 2009, which caused extended beach closings.

In southern California, closing and advisory days decreased mostly because of budget cuts, which meant that local agencies couldn’t afford to test the water as frequently as they did in years past. Less money means less monitoring and less closures – not necessarily less pollution.

If this is making you worried, don’t put away your wetsuit and board just yet.

The good news is that there has been significant progress in beachwater monitoring over the past 20 years.  There are also many ways we can improve beachwater quality – especially by installing “green infrastructure,” which uses vegetation, porous surfaces or retention devices to stop rainwater where it falls and either store it or allow it to soak back into the ground rather than flow to the ocean. Improving outdated sewer and stormwater collection systems is important too, but green infrastructure techniques are the best and most cost-effective way to keep beachgoers safe from dangerous pollution in the water.  San Francisco is making great progress to install green infrastructure throughout the City – we hope the City keeps up the good work!

There are also simple ways to protect yourself and your family from polluted water.

First, find out if the water at your beach is usually clean. NRDC’s report provides a 5-star rating guide for 200 of the nation’s most popular beaches, which you can use to see how your beach ranks in terms of water safety. The rankings are based on indicators of beachwater quality, monitoring frequency, and public notification of contamination. In San Francisco, some of our most popular beaches, Baker Beach and Ocean Beach, fared moderately well, receiving from 2 to 4 stars at different testing sites.

Even if your beach doesn’t have a star ranking in the report, you can still find all the data for water samples taken at your beach online.  Here are more easy steps you can take to protect yourself and your family:

• Don’t swim during or in the few days after it rains.
• If you notice pollution in the water, contact your local officials.
• Help prevent beach pollution – pick up pet waste, maintain your septic system, put swim diapers with plastic covers on babies, and keep trash off the beach.

This summer, enjoy the sun and surf – the smart way!