Georgia Beaches Cleaner Than Most, but Monitoring Insufficient

June 27th, 2012

Georgia’s beaches are cleaner than most, according to a new report. But experts say the state should be keeping closer track to bacteria levels so beachgoers know when to stay out of the water.

The report, issued by the Natural Resources Defense Council, cited recreational beaches with high bacteria levels, which can lead to gastrointestinal illness, rashes, and ear, eye, and sinus infections.

Georgia ranked 9th out of 30 states in terms of beach water quality.

No Georgia beaches were among the country’s 10 cleanest, but none were among the dirtiest either.

Elizabeth Cheney oversees beach quality for Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources. She says some beaches are more susceptible to stormwater runoff, which can carry sewage and other pollutants.

“All of our oceanfront beaches are in very good shape, but some beaches in the estuarine areas where it’s a little more marshy – those tend to have more bacteria.”

Clam Creek Beach and St. Andrews Beach on Jekyll Island, and the Tybee Island Polk Street beach ranked among the highest statewide in bacteria levels and swim advisories.

Many Georgia beaches were cited for not checking water quality enough – only once a week in many cases.

Cheney says she’d like to monitor more, but is hamstrung by limited funds. Georgia gets about $300,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency. The President’s proposed budget for next year wipes that funding out, which Cheney says would effectively kill the monitoring program.

“It would be very difficult for us to continue the program without that federal funding,” said Cheeny. “We would not be able to monitor the water and therefore not be able to inform the public of what levels of bacteria are in the water.”