Media Release

FOR: Immediate Release
DATE: May 17, 2001
CONTACT: Edward Wardyga (401) 222-2749

Department of Health Unveils Bathing Beaches Website
Site Gives Public Up-to-date Information on Water Quality

Providence - Today the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) introduces its Bathing Beaches Website for summer 2001. The website provides information on 115 licensed beaches-- including 62 saltwater, 50 freshwater and 3 brackish-water bathing areas throughout the state. HEALTH will post beach closures, openings, advisories and current water quality conditions daily, throughout the bathing season. Individuals can search for bathing areas alphabetically or by towns and cities. They can get historical dating back to the beginning of the program in 1994. The site also includes information on the importance of water quality monitoring, current standards, sampling methods, and monitoring frequencies.

To locate the Bathing Beaches website go to www.health.ri.gov and click on "Beach Monitoring Program " or go directly to www.health.ri.gov/beaches/index.html

"Each year Rhode Island’s beaches draw many thousands of residents and tourists to our coastline," said Dr. Patricia A. Nolan, Director of the RI Department of Health. "It’s our job to help keep these areas safe and healthy and to tell the public when a problem arises. HEALTH’s 2001 Beaches Monitoring Program provides official and authoritative information about beach conditions—with daily updates. It’s a resource the public can trust when planning their summertime activities."In addition to water quality data, the Beaches website contains a section on swimming- related illnesses, their causes and precautionary measures. To minimize potential swimming-related illnesses HEALTH previously issued a swimming advisory for unlicensed bathing areas in the upper portion of Narragansett Bay. Furthermore, the HEALTH urges individuals not to swim at any bathing area in the middle to upper bay 24-48 hours after any significant rainfall. This minimizes exposure to sewage discharges that frequently occur in the upper bay.

Most swimming-related illnesses (such as swimmer itch and gastroenteritis) are not serious, but can interfere with leisure activities. Others, such as dysentery, shigellosis, parasites and viral infections may require medical care. To protect others HEALTH urges swimmers to report any swimming-related illness to the Office of Food Protection by calling (401) 222-2750 or by completing an illness complaint form available through the Beaches website.