Hawaii Ranks 6th In Beach Water Quality
Study Finds Serious Pollution, Health Threats Around U.S.
POSTED: 11:57 am HST July 29, 2009
UPDATED: 1:13 pm HST July 29, 2009
Email
Print
HONOLULU -- A study by the Natural Resources Defense Council released on Wednesday found that Hawaii ranked sixth in the nation when it comes to beach water quality.
The Department of Health's Clean Water Branch monitors the water quality of 444 beaches last year.The study pointed out that Hawaii monitors above current national levels for quality. The state promotes the safety to beachgoers and swimmers. There are 37 popular beaches that teams test frequently.(Read Hawaii Report)Overall, the report blasted U.S. beaches for serious pollution that accounted for more than 20,000 beach closings last year."Pollution from dirty storm water runoff and sewage overflows continues to make its way to our beaches. This not only makes swimmers sick -- it hurts coastal economies," NRDC Water Program Co-Director Nancy Stoner said. "Americans should not suffer the consequences of contaminated beach water. From contracting the flu or pink eye, to jeopardizing millions of jobs and billions of dollars that rely on clean coasts, there are serious costs to inaction."Hawaii missed out on scoring five stars on any of its beaches. There were a number of four-star beaches, but they missed out on posting water quality online.The states with the worst beach water quality were Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The states with the cleanest beaches were Delaware, New Hampshire and Virginia.(Read Report)The NRDC urged governments to increase preventative pollution measures to ensure better water quality. A lawsuit settlement between the NRDC and Environmental Protection Agency requires the EPA to update beach water quality standards by 2012.
The Department of Health's Clean Water Branch monitors the water quality of 444 beaches last year.The study pointed out that Hawaii monitors above current national levels for quality. The state promotes the safety to beachgoers and swimmers. There are 37 popular beaches that teams test frequently.(Read Hawaii Report)Overall, the report blasted U.S. beaches for serious pollution that accounted for more than 20,000 beach closings last year."Pollution from dirty storm water runoff and sewage overflows continues to make its way to our beaches. This not only makes swimmers sick -- it hurts coastal economies," NRDC Water Program Co-Director Nancy Stoner said. "Americans should not suffer the consequences of contaminated beach water. From contracting the flu or pink eye, to jeopardizing millions of jobs and billions of dollars that rely on clean coasts, there are serious costs to inaction."Hawaii missed out on scoring five stars on any of its beaches. There were a number of four-star beaches, but they missed out on posting water quality online.The states with the worst beach water quality were Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The states with the cleanest beaches were Delaware, New Hampshire and Virginia.(Read Report)The NRDC urged governments to increase preventative pollution measures to ensure better water quality. A lawsuit settlement between the NRDC and Environmental Protection Agency requires the EPA to update beach water quality standards by 2012.Copyright 2009 by KITV.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
