Report: 1-in-28 Chance of Getting Sick From Swimming at LI Beaches

By Joe Dowd

Swimming at Long Island's stunning beaches is a gamble that can be hazardous to your health, according to a recent report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that raises significant concerns about the quality of water at beaches across the nation. 

The study indicated that EPA-suggested bacteria limits allow for beaches to remain open when one-in-28 swimmers could become ill.

The EPA criteria for ocean water allows levels of harmful pathogens that the EPA acknowledges could result in up to 36 out of 1,000 people who swim in the water getting sick. This translates to one out of every 28 beach-goers.

The report used data collected from 361 New York beaches, including 269 in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens counties.

"Right now, one-in-28 swimmers may become ill from waterborne pathogens if they swim in water that the EPA deems acceptable," said Rep. Steve Israel, D-Huntington, last week at a press conference at Crescent Beach, which has been closed for the past five summers because of contamination.

Israel called for the EPA to review the NRDC’s report and work to address the issues it raised. 

NRDC’s “Testing the Waters 2013” can be found on their website at www.NRDC.org/beaches.

Tell us: After five summers of beach closures at Crescent Beach, do you think Rep. Israel should have acted years ago to try to rectify the situation or is he stepping in at the right time? Let us know in the comments section.