When Rain Shuts Beaches Down

Several days this week ,at least five beaches at state parks were closed because of high bacteria levels in the water. WNPR’s Nancy Cohen reports heavy rains can wash bacteria into lakes, streams and Long Island Sound 

When it rains water hits hard surfaces like roof tops and paved streets. It can carry animal waste, from pets or geese, that contains bacteria. It can pick up motor oil or fertilizer. Most of the time the water and waste goes right into storm drains or directly into rivers and lakes without being treated.

“If it goes on the ground, it's going in the Sound.”

Leah Schmalz of the group Save the Sound says there are things the public can do to mitigate the problem, such as connecting gutters to rain barrels instead of letting the rain drain onto the street and picking up pet waste and disposing of it properly. And Schmalz says municipalities could grow more plants.

“As they’re looking to do road improvements, instead of just laying asphalt right up against a stream or Long Island Sound they can actually use buffers of vegetation that will trap the runoff, allow it to filter and then work through the groundwater.”

Schmalz says cities and towns can also make sure septic pipes from homes aren’t tied into the storm drain system.

For WNPR I’m Nancy Cohen.