Maine Beaches are Open for Swimming

Did you know that Maine's beaches are routinely monitored to protect public health and almost always open for swimming?

According to Maine.gov, the department-run Maine Healthy Beaches Program receives funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and staff support from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to monitor water quality at Maine's 55 public access beaches.

Program volunteers, municipal officials and state park employees collect samples which are analyzed for the enterococcus bacteria, which is an indication of the presence of fecal contamination from humans and animals including dogs and waterfowl.

In 2013, MHB processed over 2156 samples at 148 monitoring locations from the beaches in York County to Bar Harbor and 95 percent of the days were free of beach advisories or closures.

The number of exceedances rose slightly from 156 in 2012 to 176 in 2013. Nearly 85 percent of exceedances were preceded by rainfall.

Beyond monitoring beach water quality for recreational uses, the program helps communities identify, eliminate and prevent sources of pollution by bringing together diverse process in a collaborative process focused on sharing resources and solving problems.

The MHB program is a voluntary program. Monitoring coastal water quality for swimming and other water contact usage is the responsibility of local jurisdictions. The public can view the monitoring results at mainehealthybeaches.org. Local beach managers make the decision to post an advisory or closure.