Land Pollution's Impact: Are Our Beaches At Risk?

Land pollution can have a significant impact on beaches, causing them to become contaminated with harmful substances. This contamination can occur through various sources, such as runoff from land, overflows from sewers, and discharges from boats and ships. The pollution of coastal environments by land-based activities can have negative consequences for both the environment and human health, limiting our ability to use beaches for economic and recreational purposes.

The impact of land pollution on beaches is a pressing issue that requires attention to protect the health of both the environment and humans who utilize these spaces.

Sewage and wastewater

Combined sewer systems are designed to collect rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater through a single pipe. During heavy rainfall or snowmelt, CSSs can become overwhelmed, resulting in combined sewer overflows (CSOs). These overflows discharge untreated sewage and wastewater directly into nearby streams, rivers, or other water bodies, including coastal areas. CSOs are a common source of raw sewage on beaches, particularly in the Great Lakes basin.

Sanitary sewer systems, on the other hand, are designed specifically for transporting industrial and domestic wastewater to treatment facilities. However, these systems often have limited capacity to handle rainwater. As a result, heavy precipitation can cause sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), releasing raw sewage into nearby water bodies, including beaches. SSOs are caused by various factors, including blockages, line breaks, sewer defects, operational and maintenance issues, power failures, inadequate sewer design, and vandalism.

The impact of sewage and wastewater pollution on beaches is significant. Sewage overflows introduce bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens into the environment, threatening the health of both humans and marine life. For example, a study on beaches in Scotland found that sewage-associated plastic waste, such as wet wipes and cotton bud sticks, can act as a reservoir for faecal bacteria, potential human pathogens, and genes for antimicrobial resistance.

In addition to the direct health risks, sewage and wastewater pollution also contribute to the degradation of beach habitats. The nutrients and chemicals in wastewater can fuel the growth of harmful algal blooms (HABs), which produce toxins that harm aquatic life and humans. HABs also consume oxygen during their decomposition, creating "dead zones" that further disrupt aquatic ecosystems.

To address the issue of sewage and wastewater pollution on beaches, effective wastewater management and infrastructure improvements are crucial. Implementing and enforcing regulations, such as the Clean Water Act, can help prevent overflows and improve the treatment of sewage and wastewater. Additionally, promoting the use of green infrastructure, such as porous pavements and rainwater harvesting systems, can help reduce the amount of stormwater entering sewer systems, mitigating the risk of overflows.

Trash and litter

Litter on beaches can include items such as cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic bottles, cans, bottle caps, and lids. These items are often left behind by beachgoers or carried to the beach by wind and water currents. Plastic pollution is of particular concern due to its persistence in the environment and its widespread production, use, and disposal. Plastic waste can break down into microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles that are challenging to clean up and can be ingested by marine organisms, potentially impacting their health and entering the food chain.

The impact of trash and litter on wildlife in aquatic and terrestrial environments is significant. Animals can become entangled in debris, leading to suffocation or drowning, and they may also mistake plastic debris for food, causing internal injuries or starvation. Additionally, trash can smother aquatic plants and corals, interfering with their growth, and it can serve as a transport mechanism for invasive species into an ecosystem.

Social and economic consequences of trash and litter on beaches include the negative impact on recreation, tourism, and local economies. Once trash escapes into the environment, the financial burden of cleaning it up often falls on local governments and residents. Trash-ridden beaches are less appealing to visitors, reducing their aesthetic and recreational value. This can hurt local businesses and the tourism industry, as people may choose to spend their money elsewhere.

Chemical and nutrient pollution

Health Risks

The presence of harmful algal blooms in coastal waters poses significant health risks. These blooms release toxins that can cause various illnesses in humans, including upset stomach, neurological disorders, respiratory ailments, pink eye, earaches, meningitis, and hepatitis. In severe cases, exposure to these toxins can even lead to paralysis, seizures, vomiting, and cardiovascular problems. The toxins produced by algal blooms are also harmful to marine life, affecting fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds.

Environmental Impact

Economic Consequences

Polluted beaches pose economic challenges to coastal communities. Contamination can lead to beach closures, negatively impacting tourism and local businesses. Additionally, polluted beaches can reduce property values and hinder the economic growth of the surrounding area.

Sources of Chemical and Nutrient Pollution

There are several sources of chemical and nutrient pollution that contribute to the issue:

• Industrial agriculture practices
• Commercial fertilizers and animal manure
• Common household items such as dish soaps and dishwasher detergents
• Discharges from ships and boats, including oil and gas pollution
• Overflow from combined sewer systems during heavy rainfall, resulting in the release of raw sewage into coastal waters
• Stormwater runoff, which carries pollutants from paved surfaces into waterways

Addressing chemical and nutrient pollution requires a combination of policy changes, improved waste management practices, and individual actions to reduce the use of harmful chemicals and plastics.

Animal waste

To prevent animal waste from polluting beaches, proper waste management practices are essential. This includes responsible disposal of animal waste and the implementation of measures to prevent runoff from agricultural operations into nearby waterways. Additionally, participating in beach clean-up events and adopting a "Leave No Trace" approach during beach visits can help minimise the impact of animal waste and other forms of pollution on beach ecosystems.

Overall, animal waste is a significant contributor to land pollution that affects beaches. It poses risks to both environmental and human health and requires collective efforts to mitigate its impact on beach ecosystems.

Boat and ship discharge

Types of Discharge

Sewage and Waste

The discharge of sewage and waste from boats and ships is a major contributor to beach pollution. Fecal contamination from the improper disposal of human waste during boating can have serious consequences for water quality and public health. Sewage discharged from vessels can stimulate algae growth, reducing the available oxygen needed by fish and other organisms. This can lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs), which can produce toxins that are detrimental to aquatic ecosystems and human health.

To minimize the impact of sewage and waste, boaters should aim for zero discharge of sewage into recreational waters. While on board, fecal matter and solid waste should be contained in approved marine sanitation devices (MSDs). Upon returning to shore, portable toilets should be emptied into approved shoreside waste handling facilities, and MSDs should be discharged into approved pump-out stations.

Boat Maintenance

Boat maintenance activities, such as painting, cleaning, and refueling, can also result in the discharge of pollutants into the water. Chemicals and metals in antifouling paint, for example, can limit bottom growth and harm marine life. Small oil spills from motors and refueling can introduce petroleum hydrocarbons that attach to waterborne sediments and persist in aquatic ecosystems, harming bottom-dwelling organisms.

To reduce pollution from boat maintenance, boaters can:

• Select non-toxic cleaning products that do not harm humans or aquatic life.
• Use drop cloths and maintain boats away from the water to prevent paint and chemicals from entering the water.
• Vacuum up loose paint chips and dust.
• Carefully fuel boat engines and recycle used oil.
• Dispose of worn motor parts and batteries properly.
• Drain waterlines and tanks during winter freezes to prevent pipe bursts.
• Keep boat motors well-tuned to prevent fuel and lubricant leaks and improve fuel efficiency.

Marine Debris

Garbage, especially plastic, can not only ruin the natural beauty of beaches and marine environments but also kill aquatic life through entanglement or ingestion. It can also contribute to the depletion of dissolved oxygen, which is necessary for the health of marine plants and animals. To address this issue, it is crucial to keep trash out of the water and properly dispose of or recycle waste onshore.

Regulatory Controls

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) controls discharges from vessels depending on the type of vessel. Recreational vessels, such as canoes, kayaks, motorboats, yachts, and sailboats, are covered under the Clean Boating Act. Commercial vessels, including those used to transport paying customers, are subject to the Vessel General Permit of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program and Coast Guard ballast water regulations.

Frequently asked questions