The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its 2007 Swimming Season Update; it shows that state and territorial beach water quality managers are improving monitoring and prevention, and beaches were open for use 95 percent of beach days in 2007.

"We're all doing more to prevent pollution, monitor water quality and protect public health at America's beaches, and this report reflects the progress as well as the continuing challenges," said assistant administrator for water Benjamin H. Grumbles. "EPA is strengthening the science and increasing public awareness to help state and local partners reduce upstream storm water pollution and downstream beach closures."

During the 2007 swimming season, some beaches were restricted because of contamination-related closings, but most beaches that did have closings were closed for less than two days. Beach days are those counted during the beach season for a given area. Many beaches are open seasonally, although beach days may be counted for most or all of a calendar year in warmer areas.

Beach contamination is often from storm water running off streets, fields, forests and other sources. The EPA and its state partners are continuing solid progress in collecting and reporting data which provides a good picture of water quality conditions at our nation's beaches. The agency is also working with its partners to develop and use tools to identify and reduce beach pollution. The EPA BEACH Grant program has made available $71 million to 35 coastal and Great Lakes states and territories since the passage of the BEACH Act in 2000. The funding level for beach monitoring is $9.75 million this year.

Coastal and Great Lakes states and territories report beach monitoring and notification data to the EPA on their coastal recreation waters. EPA maintains an electronic monitoring and notification database and provides states and territories with BEACH Act grants for monitoring and reporting their beach information to the EPA. The information submitted by coastal states and territories to the EPA regarding beach closings and advisories is reflected in the annual Swimming Season Update. This same information is available to the public.

Source: U.S. EPA