By Molly Lovell

Staff Writer

Officials at the Maine Healthy Beach Program are preparing for their sixth summer testing the waters at beaches throughout the state and need volunteers to help with the effort.

Southern Maine Field Coordinator Sarah Mosley said volunteers test beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day for enterococci bacteria, which is water borne and can cause illness. The program is funded by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and is overseen by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

“We test public beaches from Kittery up to Acadia,” she said, adding that when the program began in 2002 only two towns participated. Now, 24 towns and 57 beach management areas have joined the program. 

Mosely said the most common sources of disease-causing microorganisms are from sewage overflows, polluted storm water runoff, sewage treatment plant malfunction, boating waste and septic systems. She said polluted water is more common during and after rainstorms because water draining into the beach may be carrying pollutants from overflowing treatment systems, runoff from lawns, farms, streets and construction sites.

She also said it could be related to wildlife or animal waste.

“There’s so much it can be related to,” she said.

Mosely said volunteers do additional study work at beaches where a high level of contamination is found. 

“We go up into the watershed and do a survey of the area to see where there might be potential sources and then we work with the town to remediate the problem,” she said. Additional study work was performed at Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport two summers ago. Volunteers have also done additional work at Willard Beach in South Portland and the Kennebunk River, which affects Goose Rocks Beach.

She said work continues on the Kennebunk River because it is a large watershed.

“It’s one of the beaches that has more problems. We’re trying to figure out what’s going on,” she said.

More than 200 volunteers tested Maine waters for bacteria last year. Mosely said testing is performed once a week, usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning, because results would be returned to the beach manager before the weekend when usage is highest. She said testing isn’t conducted during the winter because of the cold and because the organization gets a better reading during the summer.

“We’re looking out for the health of recreational beach goers. A lot of places have a tourist influx so we like to get the worst case scenario when there’s the highest population,” she said.

Old Orchard Beach Fire Chief John Glass is the beach manager for the town’s beaches, meaning he is one of the first contacts when bacteria is found. He said if bacteria levels come back high, he would post an advisory at the beach warning beach goers that they could become ill if they go in the water. 

Old Orchard Beach has been part of the program since the beginning and advisories have been posted twice, Glass said.

“A lot of people panic, they think the whole beach is closed but it’s usually just one small area,” he said, adding that the tides at Old Orchard Beach are strong enough to clean the shore well.

Glass said if bacteria levels were unusually high, he would close the beach, patrolling the coastline and discouraging people from going in the water.

Mosely said if someone is infected with the bacteria they generally have symptoms related to the ear, nose or throat, the digestive system or have rashes. 

The public can visit the organization’s Web site, www.mainehealthybeaches.org, and view possible advisories or closures at their preferred beach. They can also view sample information.

A volunteer training session is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m., May 21 at the Wells Reserve. The training includes a program update, review of equipment and forms as well as water sampling at a local beach. Volunteers are asked to dress appropriately as samples are taken from water waist deep. To sign up call 888-769-1036 or email smosley@umext.maine.edu.