Know Before You Go with Beaches 911
Power to the Peeples is an exclusive Earth911 series written by Bob Peeples, our resident chemical engineer and Program Manager of Earth911’s sister site Beaches911. Bob combines his extensive knowledge of the environment and how things work with an off-the-cuff sense of humor.
Summer and especially the Fourth of July holiday means throngs of beach goers descend upon the surf and the Earth911 Beach Water Quality section is here to help you “Know Before You Go.” The beach section was established in 2001 through an EPA grant to help provide coastal states with the beach-water-quality, public-notification tools that are required as part of the B.E.A.C.H. Act of 2000.
The system helps residents learn about beach water quality at their favorite beaches before they go to the beach. This area even offers an opt-in E-mail “Beach Alert” that provides the public with beach closures or advisories as they go into effect. It’s extremely helpful for residents living along the coast who frequent local beaches as well as those from landlocked states that may be planning a vacation to their favorite coastal destination. Beach goers can also learn more about beach water quality, safety and conservation, and even let beach managers know about unusual conditions at their local beach.
This year we have even more coastal communities participating in this free service, so make Earth911 Beaches your official “Know Before You Go” authority this beach season.
Sign-up for Beach Alerts and check out the Earth 911 Beach Water Quality section, Beaches.com.
