Blue Water Task Force

The Blue Water Task Force provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. Our labs measure fecal indicator bacteria levels in recreational waters and compare those results to local water quality standards.

Blue Water Task Force labs fill in the gaps and extend the coverage of agency-run beach monitoring programs by sampling ocean beaches, bay beaches, and potential freshwater sources of pollution such as stormwater outlets, rivers and creeks that discharge onto the beach. The Blue Water Task Force operates year-round, even through the off-season when,  in many communities, lifeguards leave the beach and health officials stop collecting water samples.

The Blue Water Task Force provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. Our labs measure fecal indicator bacteria levels in recreational waters and compare those results to local water quality standards.

Blue Water Task Force labs fill in the gaps and extend the coverage of agency-run beach monitoring programs by sampling ocean beaches, bay beaches, and potential freshwater sources of pollution such as stormwater outlets, rivers and creeks that discharge onto the beach. The Blue Water Task Force operates year-round, even through the off-season when,  in many communities, lifeguards leave the beach and health officials stop collecting water samples.