Study shows public not well warned when pollution is high

No parking spots were available around noon as people were in the water and sand at York's Long Sands Beach on a beautiful Tuesday in Maine.Deb Cram/dcram@seacoastonline.com

PORTLAND, Maine Several beaches in York as well as Crescent Beach in Kittery were in the Top 20 of state beaches that most frequently failed water quality tests in 2011. Short Sands Beach and Cape Neddick Beach were in the Top 10.

Environment Maine released new beach water safety data Tuesday and called on the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to better inform the public when pollution levels exceed the state's health limits.

"Clean beaches are not only part of summertime fun, but they are also critical to our health, as well as to Maine's tourism and fishing economies," said Emily Figdor, director of Environment Maine, a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization.

"The public has a right to know when the water is safe and clean, and when it's not," Figdor said at a news conference held Tuesday at East End Beach.

"That's why I was astounded to hear the false and misleading statements made by the Department of Environmental Protection last week."

The Maine DEP issued a prepared statement Friday stating definitively that beach managers will post an advisory or a closure notice when bacteria levels exceed established health limits. The announcement also stated that more than two-thirds of Maine beaches had no water quality issues in 2011.

Figdor took issue with the guarantee that an advisory would be issued and the resulting conclusion about safety.

Environment Maine released Tuesday state data from the Natural Resources Defense Council's 22nd annual beach water report, "Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches."

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Several southern Maine beaches fail water quality tests