Ninth Beach Closure of the Season Reiterates Importance of Polluted Runoff Prevention Efforts by Towns and Individuals

WARWICK, R.I.  – Following rains earlier in the week and yesterday’s flash thunderstorms, the R.I. Department of Health has closed Goddard Memorial State Park Beach due to high bacteria counts that make the popular beach unsafe for swimming.  The Goddard beach closing brings to nine the number of local beaches that have now been closed for up to nine days this season, due to high levels of Enterocci bacteria, which indicates the presence of human and animal feces.

Beach closures are a preventable summer-season reminder about the significant role that stormwater runoff plays in the water quality of Narragansett Bay and its watershed. “Rain events don’t always cause a beach closure, but they do always bring pollution into our waters. Stormwater runoff collects pet waste, bird poop, and other contaminants from roads, parking lots, and other hard surfaces into streams, ponds and coastal waters. This contaminated stormwater threatens human health, fouls the shoreline with trash, poses serious risks to birds, fish, and shellfish, and can lead to these beach closures, all of which negatively impact our quality of life,” said Save The Bay’s Narragansett Baykeeper Tom Kutcher.

Save The Bay envisions a swimmable, fishable, healthy Narragansett Bay, accessible to all, and that means no beach closures. Several communities have been working in partnership with Save The Bay to develop improved stormwater management systems for such beaches as Oakland Beach, Bristol Town Beach, Warren Town Beach, Barrington Town Beach and Little Narragansett Bay. Cities and towns that have installed municipal sewer connections or completed stormwater improvement projects near beaches have enjoyed improved water quality and witnessed significant reductions in beach closure events.

Individuals can also play a role in reducing runoff pollution by taking the following actions to minimize both the pollutants that lie one ground and the runoff that makes its way into the watershed:

1. Redirect downspouts onto lawn and garden areas in order to reduce the amount of water running off the land and into storm drains;
2. Minimize use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, which contaminate the Bay and harm wildlife;
3. Clean up pet poop – even in one’s own backyard – to reduce fecal bacteria in our waters;
4. Do not feed ducks and geese, whose waste adds bacteria and excess nutrients to runoff;
5. Avoid overwatering lawns or using excess water in washing vehicles;
6. Collect rainwater in rain barrels and leave grass clippings on the ground to help lawns retain moisture;
7. Do not use storm drains for pet waste, grass clippings, leaves, road sand, cigarette butts or other trash, paint, oil, cleansers or any other substance;
8. Keep septic systems in working order;
9. Replace your cesspool with a modern septic system or sewer tie-in;
10. Support efforts by cities and towns to fund the projects that can reduce and treat polluted run-off.

Leave a comment