Clean Water

Everyone should have access to clean water to surf, swim and play in. We are testing the waters for bacteria and toxins, raising public awareness and finding real solutions to ocean pollution; solutions that restore healthy watersheds, protect local water supplies and keep pollution from reaching the ocean.

Improving coastal water quality has been one of the Surfrider Foundation’s top priorities over the last 30 years. Our Clean Water Initiative strives to protect water resources and prevent pollution from reaching the ocean.

Water quality at the beach is threatened by pollution from urban and agricultural runoff, sewage spills and overflows, and waste discharged into the ocean by industry, sewage treatment plants and power plants. The urbanization of our coasts has also altered and polluted the natural water cycle, allowing polluted runoff to go straight towards the ocean. Pollution at recreational beaches costs the U.S. economy more than $2.2 billion and results in 20,000 health advisories annually. It’s unacceptable that a day at the beach could result in stomach flu, skin rashes, pinkeye, respiratory infections or worse.

Surfrider's Clean Water Initiative works to protect our coastal waterways, communities, and wildlife from water pollution by focusing on two main programs. These programs are the Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) and Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG). Chapters also run campaigns against projects that will cause pollution and advocate for wise management of our land and water resources.

The Blue Water Task Force is our volunteer-run, water testing, education and advocacy program which provides valuable water quality information to beach communities, identifies problems with beach and coastal water pollution, and works in your local community to raise awareness of pollution problems and implement solutions. Over the past 20 years, the Blue Water Task Force has grown into a network of over 30 labs that are providing you with the information you need to know if a day at the beach will make you sick.

Our volunteers help local communities create Ocean Friendly Gardens, that conserve water and wildlife habitat with native plants, restore soil to sponge up rainwater and filter out pollution and ultimately reduce the amount of polluted runoff reaching the ocean. They also help us educate landscape professionals and advocate for change to government policy. By planting Ocean Friendly Gardens across the country—and more every day—the Surfrider Foundation has prevented over 13 million gallons of urban runoff from polluting our coastal waters and the ocean.

Sources of Beach & Ocean Pollution

Stormwater & Urban Runoff – #1 Source of Beach Closures & Advisories

Sewage

Sewage Spills, Leaks & Illicit Connections
Ocean Outfalls, Combined Sewage Overflows (CSOs)
Septic Systems & Cesspools

Agriculture

Point (end-of-the-pipe) discharges
Factories, Power Plants, Desalination Plants
Pets & Wildlife

Chapter Activities to Engage in the Clean Water Initiative

Host a Rain Barrel Building Workshop
Pursue a “Sweep Don’t Hose” Ordinance
Hold a Street Stewardship Event: Stormdrain Marking and Bioswale Maintenance
Host a Cycle of Insanity event. Film guide to help you lead a discussion with the audience.
Host a screening of the movie Watershed and have a discussion afterwards. (This film is Southwest centric, but covers many issues that are relevant across the country.)
Find a Water Footprint Calculator you like and host a competition within your City to encourage water conservation.
Not a member yet? Join your local Surfrider Chapter!

Publications

Surfrider's Clean Water Annual Report: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
Coastal Blog Topics: Clean Water, Illness, Desalination, Wastewater, Clean Water Act, Beach Act

Handouts, One-pagers, and Brochures

Clean Water Tips - Easy ways we can all stop polluting and wasting water. Blog post & PDF
One pager on the Clean Water Initiative
Brochure on the Clean Water Initiative (print-ready)

Online Resources and How To's

Chapter's User Guide to the Clean Water Initiative.
Beachapedia.org - Surfrider's on-line coastal knowlege resource. Topics relevant to water pollution and clean water solutions available here.
The Cycle of Insanity - Watch this film to learn more about how we have polluted the natural water cycle and how we can take a holistic approach to restore coastal watersheds, protect local water supplies and keep pollution from reaching the ocean. Available as full 20-min film, 2-minute trailer & film script.
Ocean Illness Reporting Tool - You can track incidents of skin infections, gastro-intestinal symptoms and other ocean illnesses at your local beaches with this on-line, sickness reporting tool.
Surfrider's Coastal Blog - Clean Water Topics include Water Quality, Blue Water Task Force, Ocean Friendly Gardens and Know Your H2O

For more information or questions:

Mara Dias, Water Quality Manager
mdias@surfrider.org

Clean Water

Testing The Waters

The Surfrider Foundation is taking a multi-tiered approach to tackle ocean pollution problems.

Blue Water Task Force

Ocean Friendly Gardens

Ocean Friendly Gardens

Stop Sewage Pollution

Resources

Clean Water News

Ways To Get Involved

Volunteer

Donate

Take Action