- Because of booming growth in U.S. coastal regions, much of the area near the shoreline is covered with impervious surfaces such as parking lots, roads and sidewalks. When it rains, storm water runoff from these surfaces can carry animal feces and their accompanying microbes into drainage ditches that lead directly to lakes, streams and beaches.
- Contamination by fecal bacteria is the leading cause of beach closures and advisories, which now affect one third of the country’s monitored beaches. Hazardous microbes also plague marinas, tidal creeks and shellfish beds.
- To fight microbial pollution, coastal communities can encourage the preservation of green spaces, install filters in storm drains and prevent the placement of septic tanks in areas with porous soils.
- The reason for 85 percent of BEACH CLOSURES and advisories is the detection of excessive fecal bacteria.
- The environmental protection Agency has stated that this type of pollution is the leadig remeaining cause of water quality problems in the U.S.
- Reasearchers have been studying the environmental damage caused by impervious surface coverage since the late 1980's
- Fecal microbes from septic systems in the florida keys can enter coastal waters within hours.
- The sediments lying at the bottom of shallow coastal waters are also a reservoir for fecal bacteria and other microbes.
- Poorly designed sanitation systems in coastal regions can also contribute to microbial pollution.
- The geologic formation is very porous and hence can't effectively filter the bacteria-rich effluent from septic tanks.