UNSAFE BEACHES - As millions of Americans head out to the beach for summer vacations, most probably aren’t aware of potential health problems they may encounter from swimming in the water. For example a report came out yesterday that finds the vast majority of Texas beaches had dangerous levels of fecal bacteria last year. The group Environment Texas says 141 of 167 beaches tested in 2018 had at least one potentially unsafe day for swimmers. Their Deputy Director Jen Schmerling says one way to prevent beach contamination is green infrastructure.
“For example rain barrels, or if we improve our sewage infrastructure," explained Schmerling. "Or if we increase the number of retention ponds, we can decrease sewage runoff around our city and around our state.”
Nationwide more than half of the roughly 26-hundred beaches sampled were potentially unsafe for swimmers on at least one day. At last look, all beaches along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast are currently closed due to a toxic algae bloom which can cause rashes, diarrhea and vomiting. This unwelcome news is expected to have a negative impact on the gulfcoast tourism industry. Beaches in Texas and Mississippi are a popular summertime destination for Louisiana vacationers due to their close proximity.
