York Town News
Despite the spring floods, local beaches are in good health so far this summer
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK BEACH - From Cape Neddick Beach to Harbor Beach, "healthy" seems to be the word when it comes to the ocean water quality at the town's public beaches.That is the overall indication of this summer's testing, which is being conducted weekly as part of York's ongoing participation in the Maine Healthy Beaches Program.
Town Manager Rob Yandow and Parks and Recreation Director Mike Sullivan confirmed that, except for one spike in bacteria levels at Cape Neddick Beach at the end of June, the results in the Maine Shore Stewards program have been positive this summer.
In fact, Sullivan said, the bacteria readings this year are down from last year.
The program includes testing for enterococci, a form of bacteria, in parts per 100 milliliters.
According to Environmental Protection Agency regulations, a beach would be given failing marks it terms of its health if 104 parts of enterococci bacteria are found per 100 milliliters of sample water five or more samples collected during a 30-day period.
"Our results have been good so far, with the one exception being the 155 at Cape Neddick beach," Yandow said, adding that, "after the 155, the next test was 5 (parts), so that is an excellent result."
That is especially good news, Sullivan said, not only because of the spring flooding, but because the ocean waters are getting warmer and more conducive to the survival of bacteria.
"The good news is nothing is going on - especially at a time when other communities are having some problems," Sullivan said.
The samples taken at 11 sites across York's beaches ranged from 5 to 10 parts per 100 milliliters of water for enterococci bacteria during the most recent testing and at nearly all the tests conducted since June.
The town tests sites at its beaches each Wednesday, Sullivan explained, and a test at the end of June at the Cape Neddick Beach had spiked to 155 parts per 100 milliliters - out of sync with the overall testing results of the summer so far.
Even with the spike, Sullivan said it was not high enough to trigger concern in terms of state swimming regulations because it has not recurred to date.
"The water is getting warmer and we have a lot more people," Sullivan said, "but right now, things are very good."
Sullivan said there could be reason for concern if a pattern developed, but the town has only seen occasional "spikes" during testing each summer and no pattern has emerged.
"If a particular test site has a pattern of high test results, we gear in on that," Sullivan said.
Sullivan said he hopes the healthy results will continue to be the case, but added the monitoring is important because of the various impacts on the oceans surrounding the Yorks.
Cape Neddick Beach samples had been running higher than the town's other sites in the weeks preceding as well - 52 parts per 100 on June 21 and 86 parts per 100 on June 14 - but were well below the regulated levels for concern.
During the first test of this summer's program, on June 7, Cape Neddick and each of York's beaches tested had readings of 10 or 5 parts per 100 milliliters, as was the case again for the July 5 tests.
The town is scheduled to test again today, Wednesday, July 12, and each Wednesday through Labor Day.
Compared to the tests of this time last year, York's bacteria counts are way down - as the range in mid-July ranged between four and 200, depending on the site.
York joined the Maine Shore Stewards "Healthy Beaches" program in 2003.
Contact Associate Editor Jennifer L. Saunders at jsaunders@yorkindependent.net.
