How to Find Out if Your Beach is Contaminated


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By the time a beach is closed,
A beach covered in glowing oil
To find out more about
out on the beach to see if
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Many beaches are closing because of pollution problems. The most well known cause of these pollution is the storm water. Heavy rain can cause untreated sewage leak and overflow. Also, rainwater can pick pollutants such as trash, animal waste, pesticides and fertilizer which flows to coastal waters and causes contamination. People who would take a swim in a contaminated water at the beach can actually get sick, so it is very important to know if your beach is contaminated. Below are steps and tips on how to find out if your beach is contaminated.

How To / Instruction

Difficulty: Normal

  • Step

    1

    Get water sample from the beach. It should be taken approximately 18 inches water depth. Take water sample by inserting a clean plastic water container in a bottom-side-up way and turn it top side up once the 18 inches depth is reached.

  • Step

    2

    Fill the sample plastic container with exact amount of water needed for testing. Small amount of water sample can cause to inaccurate results.

  • Step

    3

    Bring sample to organizations/agencies who have the tools and equipments to test the water sample. Tell them the process on how gathered the water sample.

  • Step

    4

    Wait for few days to obtain the test result. Once you have the result, it is recommended that the process of getting a sample and testing the water should be done again.

  • Step

    5

    An estimated of 1 to 4-day delay of getting water sample and testing should be followed because some pollutions only stay for a day.

Tips and Warnings

  • Do not swim at the beach after a heavy rain.

  • Place your trash at the trash receptacles and not throw them at the beach or near the beach.

  • Take a shower after swimming at the beach.

  • Do not swallow water at the beach.

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