Issue Areas

Environmental Issues > Water Main Page > All Water Documents

Sources of Beachwater Pollution

Most beach closings and advisories are issued because beachwater monitoring has detected bacteria that indicate the presence of pathogens -- microscopic organisms from human and animal wastes that pose a threat to human health. The key known contributors of these contaminants are stormwater runoff, untreated or partially treated discharges from sewage treatment systems, discharges from sanitary sewers and septic systems, and wildlife.

last revised 6/26/2012

Get document in pdf

Popular Tags [ View All Tags ]:: clean water act; conservation and restoration; drinking water; low impact development; rivers; sewage; stormwater; water pollution; wetlands

All Tags [ View Popular Tags ]:: agriculture; arsenic; beaches; bottled water; breweries; bush administration; business; California; case studies; Catskills; children's health; clean water; Clean Water Act; cleanwateract; climate change; coal-fired power plants; Congress; consequences; conservation and restoration; drinking water; drought; energy; EPA; Everglades; fish & fishing; floods; florida; fracking; global warming; global warming and health; greatlakes; green infrastructure; groundwater; gulfspill; habitat loss; health; health effects of pollution; heat waves; hog farms; hydraulic fractring; hydraulic fracturing; hydropower; India; International; interviews; livestock; livestock farms; low impact development; manure; maps; mercury; midwest; NatLab; natural gas; New York City; oil; oil shale development; oil shale development in colorado river basin; oil shale impact on water; oil spills; photos; pig farms; polluted runoff; pollution; poultry; powerplant; rainwater; readiness; rivers; Rocky Mountains; rooftops; runoff; safe drinking water; safe drinking water pollution; salmon; san joaquin; sanitation; sewage; sewage water pollution; sewer; stormwater; stormwater runoff; tap water; United Nations; volumetric pricing; wastewater; water efficiency; water filters; water management; water pollution; Water Pollution; water preparedness; water readiness; water scarcity; water supplies; water supply; water sustainability; waterefficiency; western water; western waters; wetlands; wildfires; wildlife

Sign up for NRDC's online newsletter

See the latest issue >

Water on Switchboard

NRDC experts write about water efficiency, green infrastructure and climate on the NRDC blog.

Recent Water Posts

New Draft Fracking Rules Give Industry a Free Pass: posted by Frances Beinecke, 5/17/13
Voices for America's Wildlife - Fishermen Know that Protecting Endangered Salmon Protects Fishing Jobs: posted by Doug Obegi, 5/16/13
How Are California's Existing Water Management Issues Impacted by Climate Change?: posted by Ben Chou, 5/15/13

Give the Gift That Will Make a Difference: A Long Cool Drink

NRDC Gets Top Ratings from the Charity Watchdogs

: Charity Navigator awards NRDC its 4-star top rating.
: Worth magazine named NRDC one of America's 100 best charities.
: NRDC meets the highest standards of the Wise Giving Alliance of the Better Business Bureau.

Donate now >

Issue Areas

Sources of Beachwater Pollution

Sign up for NRDC's online newsletter

Water on Switchboard

Recent Water Posts

NRDC Gets Top Ratings from the Charity Watchdogs

Related Links

Tell your friends you're making a difference:

Issue Areas

Sources of Beachwater Pollution

Related NRDC Webpages:

NRDC: Testing the Waters

Sign up for NRDC's online newsletter

Water on Switchboard

Recent Water Posts

NRDC Gets Top Ratings from the Charity Watchdogs

Related Links

Popular Issues

Tell your friends you're making a difference: