Rhode island pollution a Brown University concern: A global harbinger

In 2013, Rhode island beaches, where Brown University resides, was ranked 14th in 30 states of the United States. According to NRDC.org around 196 beaches out of 241 coastal points on Rhode island wasnt monitored properly for the human feces and sewage pollution, that constantly lingers from New York City.

Rhode Island citizens in 2013 continued with inquiries into their beaches, but being an expensive matter, tests are rare. Rhode island beaches at this time says sources, around Brown University, can not be cleaned, and are closed with pollution warnings after the shifts in tides. Brown University with its claimed problem solvers have not fixed it's local problems but state a superior intellect over several areas of academia.

Beach Closings and Advisories on Rhode Island
In 2011, there were no less than 74 days of closed beaches, and 71 days in 2010. In 2009 there were no less than 178 days and 124 days in 2008. 

In addition, there were no permanent beach events in 2012 such as community activities or sports activities. Extended events, are those in effect, more than six weeks but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more than 13 consecutive weeks. All 49 closing and advisory days in 2012 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated sewage bacteria levels. 

Rhode Island And Beaches around Brown University
Rhode Island issues both beach closings (in response to bacterial contamination) and advisories (due to rain). The state's coastal bathing water standard is a single-sample maximum of 104 cfu/100 ml of enterococcus. No geometric mean standard is applied when determining whether to issue a beach closing. 

Advisory information is posted at the beach and online. The state's usual policy is to close a beach if sampling results exceed the standard. However, the state health department considers several environmental factors before deciding whether to close a beach because of bacterial contamination, including the presence of wildlife or seaweed, the number of tides since the sample was collected, the history of sample results for that beach, and rainfall.

When or if environmental factors detect human fecal contamination, the beach may remain open while it is resampled. If a known sewage discharge occurs in close proximity to a beach, officials immediately close the beach without waiting for sampling results to confirm contamination. Scarborough State Beach and Easton's Beach have preemptive rainfall standards and are closed when there is more than 1 inch of rainfall in a 24-hour period. 

Easton's Beach may reopen within 12 hours of cessation of heavy rain if water quality has shown to improve in that time period. The Beach Monitoring Program generally recommends no water contact for three days after heavy rainfall. As noted above, the Department of Health discourages contact with water in Upper Narragansett Bay, north of Conimicut Point, for at least three days after heavy rains because the water is directly impacted by wastewater treatment facilities and/or storm drains in the area.

Reference
www.nrdc.org "Testing the waters 2013", retrieved April 20th, 2013

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