Clean Beaches and Streams Program
The goals of the Clean Beaches and Streams Program are to keep the public from exposure to water pollution at area beaches by:
1) providing education on the health threats linked to bacterial contaminated water
2) increasing water quality monitoring
3) partnering with local Boards of Health and Departments of Public Works to identify, post, and fix pollution problems.
To read more about the program and what you can do to be part of the solution, check out "Making the Stormwater Connection".
Clean Beaches and Streams Water Quality
Monitoring Program Summer 2011
From June to August, trained volunteers take water samples from streams and outfall pipes as they empty out on to our coastal beaches. SSCW trains volunteers to monitor water quality by collecting samples from prioritized shoreline sites (stormwater outfalls, coastal streams, etc.). All samples are tested for Enterococcus. Like the more familiar E. coli, enterococci are part of the normal intestinal flora of humans and animals but are also important pathogens that are responsible for serious infections. US EPA has determined that the Enterococcus group is a better indicator of potential public health risk of waterborne disease than fecal coliform bacteria in marine waters.
The 2011 Clean Beaches & Stream program was funded by donations to Salem Sound Coastwatch. All water samples are taken following a MA DEP approved Quality Assurance Project Plan and are analyzed by BioMarine Inc. SSCW greatly appreciates your support for this very valuable program.
Testing is conducted every two weeks at designated sites whether it is dry or raining. The results are then shared with the watershed's municipalities as well as the public. Click the links below to view a report for a particular date:
| Thursday, June 2 | CBS-6-02-11.pdf |
| Thursday, June 16 | CBS-6-16-11.pdf |
| Thursday, June 30 | CBS-6-30-11.pdf |
| Tuesday, July 5 | CBS-7-05-11.pdf |
| Tuesday, July 19 | CBS-7-19-11.pdf |
| Tuesday, August 2 | CBS-8-02-11.pdf |
| Tuesday, August 16 | CBS-8-16-11.pdf |