Coastal Blog — Water Quality
October 17 2011
THE CLEAN WATER ACT: 39 YEARS LATER
Blue Water Task Force Partnerships Water Quality
On the 39th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, Alacer Corp., maker of Emergen-C Blue vitamin drink mix, announces that, in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation, they are working to raise awareness about the need for clean water and alert communities about water quality issues through the Blue Water Task…
October 14 2011
Harmful Algal Bloom Bill Introduced in the Senate
The Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2011 (S.1701) was introduced by Senators Olympia Snowe (D-ME) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) yesterday to address the problem of Harmful Algal Blooms (commonly known as "HABs") that are making our coasts and oceans increasingly harmful to public health.…
October 06 2011
First Flush: Just How Dirty is That Water?
The West Coast had its first big rain storm of the year this week, dumping several inches in places and breaking rainfall records in L.A. This "first flush" makes our beach waters very dirty and can make you sick.
September 29 2011
A New Beach Bill in the Senate
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality
The Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2011 has just been introduced into the U. S. Senate by Senators Frank Lautenberg, a democrat from NJ, and Mark Kirk, a republican from Illinois.
September 22 2011
Surfrider Foundation Jointly Sues EPA for Lack of Study on Oil Dispersants
Today, Surfrider Foundation, Center for Biological Diversity and Pacific Environment jointly filed an official Notice of Intent to Sue against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for allowing the use of toxic oil dispersants without ensuring that these chemicals would not harm our coastal environment and coastal users. The 60-day notice…
September 21 2011
Paddle for Clean Water
Both the San Diego and DC Chapters held their annual Paddles for Clean Water this past weekend, September 17th & 18th.
September 15 2011
Sewage Disks Removed from New England Beaches
The New Hampshire Chapter was credited along with other NGOs for being instrumental in helping remove sewage disks from beaches after they were released from a NH wastewater treatment plant earlier this year.
August 17 2011
Looking for Answers to Pollution in Cannon Beach, Oregon
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality
The Blue Water Task Force program on the North Coast of Oregon has been working with the City of Cannon Beach to document the pollution problem at Ecola Court since 2009.
July 27 2011
Congressional Attack on Clean Water and the Environment
The House of Representatives is forging an attack on America's long standing environmental laws. The House has been busy passing 'dirty water bills' and tacking on riders to the 2012 federal budget that restrict the EPA's authority to enforce the Clean Water, Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts.
July 01 2011
Testing the Waters 2011
Blue Water Task Force Partnerships Solutions Source Identification Water Quality
NRDC released their annual Testing the Waters report this week. There were over 24,000 beach closures and advisories issued in 2010, the second highest level of the past two decades.
June 30 2011
Bacteria Pollution at Larrabee Park, Washington
Blue Water Task Force Partnerships Source Identification Water Quality
The Northwest Straits Chapter fears continued high bacteria levels at popular beach may lead to a permanent beach closure.
June 30 2011
Illegal Wastewater Discharges in Maui
Know Your H20 Wastewater Water Quality
The Surfrider Foundation joins other community groups in filing a notice of intent to sue the County of Maui to force them to comply with the Clean Water Act and get the needed discharge permits to continue injecting their wastewater into the island's groundwater.
June 28 2011
Sewage Spill along Gulf Coast of Florida
Approximately 3.5 million gallons of raw sewage poured into Manatee River last week through pipes operated by a wastewater treatment plant in Bradenton, Florida.
June 23 2011
Sewage Spill Right-to-Know Bill in Nassau County, NY
A new bill has been introduced in Nassau County, NY which would require public notification of sewage spills and wastewater discharges that severely exceed permit limits.
June 22 2011
Spraying Herbicides and Pesticides Near Water - What’s Wrong With This Picture?
A recent article in the Oregonian pointed out that the effects of the use of weed killers (herbicides) on humans and plants is raising concerns nationwide. Partially in response to this, Oregon recently passed what may be the strictest standards for toxic water pollution in the United States. Meanwhile, a…
April 14 2011
One Year Later - Still Oil in the Sand
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality Oil Spill
Surfrider volunteers recently conducted testing for oil and dispersants in the sand at Dune Allen Beach in Florida. The volunteers used a special ultraviolet light which revealed veins of what has been termed a “crude/Corexit compound” in the sand. Surfrider Foundation will communicate their findings and methods with BP to…
April 12 2011
Opposition to Hasting’s oil drilling bills
The Surfrider Foundation joins 48 organizations representing millions of American's in opposition to three bills sponsored by Doc Hastings (R-WA) that would promote new offshore drilling in US coastal waters
April 06 2011
Testing Gulf Beaches for Oil and Dispersants
Blue Water Task Force Water Quality Oil Spill
Check out these videos describing the Emerald Coast Chapter's new venture testing beach sand for oil and dispersant contamination using UV light.
March 29 2011
Glouster, Massachusetts balks at upgrading its sewage treatment plant to secondary treatment levels
Representatives from the Massachusetts Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation were the lone voices of support at a recent public hearing for EPA's draft decision to deny a sewage treatment plant in Glouster another waiver to it's obligations to meet the decades long requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
