Clean Beaches and Streams
Summer 2010
Water Quality Monitoring Program

The Clean Beaches and Streams Program trains volunteers to help 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 2009 Clean Beaches & Stream program is 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:

For current information regarding local beach closures and beach water quality (from testing performed weekly by each municipality), visit the Mass. Dept. of Public Health Website. You can then access the Salem Sound communities by clicking on the map.

Results from the Clean Beaches and Streams Program for Summer 2003, Summer 2004, Summer 2005, Summer 2006, Summer 2007, Summer 2008 and Summer 2009 are available.

To be part of the solution, read Making the Stormwater Connection.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for this program, please contact:

Barbara Warren
978-741-7900