108 



Summary of Findings 

 For 1992 



♦ Pollution continues lo cause degradation of water qualirv throughout the nation, 

 as evidenced bv the persistence of beach closings. In 1992, U.S. ocean and bav beach- 

 es were closed, or advisories were issued against swimming, on more than 2,600 occa- 

 sions in the coastal states that monitor beach water quality. There have been over 

 7,700 closings and advisories since 1988. (See Tablf 1: Ocean Cjf Bay Beach Closings df 

 Adviiones m 22 Omslnl Slntey 1 988-1 992. 1 



♦ High levels of bacteria — indicating the presence of pathogens in human or ani- 

 mal waste — are responsible for the overwhelming majoritv of beach closings and 

 advisories. The major causes of high bacteria levels in beach water are: inadequate 

 and overloaded sewage treatment plants, raw sewage discharges Irom combined or 

 sanitar\ sewers, polluted storniwater rimofl, faulr\ septic svsicnis, and boatnig wastes. 



♦ The wide range ol diseases that can be carried bv the bacteria in sewage-contami- 

 nated waters include gastroenteritis, dvsenterv, and hepatitis. The consequences of 

 contracting swinmting-associated illnesses can be greater for children, elderlv people, 

 and others with weaker immune svstems. 



♦ The lederal Clean Water Act is currenilv before Congress lor amendment and 

 reauthorization. This provides a crucial opportunitv to strengthen protections for 

 ocean and bav beaches bv promoting cleanup ol the sources of beach pollution and 

 bv providing imilorm national standards, moimoriiig, and public notification 

 requirements to protect swimmers 



♦ There were over one-hundred sixlv million visitors to ocean and bav beaches in 

 the United .States in 1992. Investing in clean waiei will protect these millions ol visi- 

 tors and the jobs ol local businesspeople who relv on beach recreation, as well as 

 fishing. As a consequence of clean water investineiu. new jobs will be created: lor 

 everv SI billion invested in water and wastewater inlrastructtire. including cleanup 

 of sources that pollute beach water, at least 6.400 to 1.5.600 jobs could be directiv 

 generated. 



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