Water can be polluted by different things. Trash, such as picnic plates, plastic bags and bottles, and cigarette butts is easy to see. It is often the things we can't see, such as bacteria and other microorganisms, that we need to be more concerned about. If you or your family are exposed to these disease-causing organisms, they may make you sick.
Swimming or playing in unsafe water may result in minor illnesses such as sore throats or diarrhea. It also might result in more serious illnesses that may last longer than your vacation at the beach! Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems have a greater chance of getting sick when they come in contact with contaminated water.
Where Does This Pollution Come From?
The most frequent sources of disease-causing microorganisms are from sewage overflows, polluted storm water runoff, sewage treatment plant malfunctions, boating wastes and malfunctioning septic systems.
Pollution in beach water is often much higher during and immediately after rainstorms because water draining into the beach may be carrying sewage from overflowing sewage treatment systems. Rainwater also flows to our beaches after running off lawns, farms, streets, construction sites, and other urban areas, picking up animal waste, fertilizer, pesticides, trash and many other pollutants.Many of these pollutants can end up in the water at our beaches.
DISEASE-CAUSING MICROORGANISMS IN SEWAGE
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Bacteria: Gastroenteritis (includes diarrhea and abdominal pain), salmonellosis (food poisoning), cholera.
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Viruses: Fever, common colds, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, respiratory infections, hepatitis.
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Protozoa: Gastroenteritis, cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis (including diarrhea and abdominal cramps), dysentery.
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Worms: Digestive disturbances, vomiting, restlessness, coughing, chest pain, fever, diarrhea.
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