Beach water testing to protect beach goers

SACRAMENTO The State Water Resources Control Board will examine
alternative funding sources so the state can continue a pioneering
effort to test and monitor water quality at Californias most popular
beaches during the busiest times of the year.

Because of the downturn in the economy and state revenues, it is not
possible to reimburse counties from the states General Fund as has
been done in previous years. Because of his concern for protecting
water quality and beach-goers health, the Governor has asked the Water
Board to investigate other funding sources for the monitoring program.
 The five member State Water Board will consider temporarily paying
the costs out of previously approved Proposition 13 (2000) bond funds
that are dedicated to improving water quality at the states beaches.
The Water Board will consider a proposal at its next regular meeting
in Sacramento on November 4th.

I value the recreational and environmental aspects of our beaches and
I am proud that the Water Boards, in cooperation with local
governments have done a great job cleaning up beach pollution, said
Water Board Chair Tam M. Doduc. This will be a decision for the full
board, but we are all aware that progress must be backed up with
rigorous test results. We know there is still the threat of
contaminated water and there are still some beaches where there has
not been enough progress. That is why testing is so important for the
health of swimmers, surfers and young children who splash in the
waves.

In previous years, the approximately $1 million Beach Safety Program
of the Department of Public Health (DPH) was used by DPH for grants to
local agencies for beach water quality testing programs from April 1st
through Oct 31st each year (the months of highest swimming activity).
The actual tests are conducted by the counties along the coast.
California has pioneered extensive (in many cases daily) testing and
spends far more of its own money to protect beach-goers health than do
other coastal states. (The U.S. EPA does provide some testing money,
but not enough to maintain thorough testing along Californias long
coast.)

We are responding to the Governors request to find alternate funds
because he is determined that California will continue to have the
finest and safest beaches in the country. They are part of our
heritage and a gem in our environment, said Chair Tam Doduc.

For more info visit: http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/