Brian Barton
Galveston Bay has a long history of industrial activity, and while environmental regulations now exist to control the release of pollution, industrial activities still result in pollutants in the Bay, predominantly found in the Bay's sediment. To combat this, Texas has an Oil Spill Prevention and Response program that is world-renowned for its proactive and preventive initiatives to keep oil out of the water. Despite this, an average of 187 oil spills have been reported annually in Galveston Bay since 2009, and the Bay continues to suffer from toxic contamination and trash pollution. To address water quality issues, the Galveston Bay Foundation provides advice to local residents on how to improve water quality through the Galveston Bay Report Card, and monitoring programs gather data on toxins in the sediments of Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel.
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What You'll Learn
- The Texas Beach Watch program tests for Enterococcus bacteria
- Oil spills are prevented by the Texas Oil Spill Prevention program
- Galveston Bay Action Network takes reports of toxic pollution
- Galveston Bay Report Card provides advice on improving water quality
- Texas Beach Watch issues advisories when Enterococcus levels are unsafe
The Texas Beach Watch program tests for Enterococcus bacteria
The Texas Beach Watch program is a federal initiative that tests hundreds of recreational swimming sites in the United States for the presence of Enterococcus bacteria. This bacteria is a valuable indicator of faecal contamination in recreational surface waters, and its presence can cause illnesses like rashes, skin irritation, and eye, ear, and respiratory infections.
Galveston County Health District (GCHD) routinely tests 52 beach sites in Galveston County for Enterococcus, with 36 sites on Galveston Island, 16 on Bolivar Peninsula, and one on the Texas City Dike. When Enterococcus levels exceed the EPA standard for safe swimming, an advisory is issued for that beach. The site is then tested daily until the bacterial levels decrease, which typically takes about 48 hours. Advisories are indicated with signs on the beach and online at TexasBeachWatch.com and www.gchd.org.
Enterococcus bacteria are naturally found in the intestines and waste of mammals and birds, including humans. Bacterial levels tend to spike after heavy rainfall due to runoff from various sources, such as failing septic systems, pet waste, livestock, and malfunctioning infrastructure. To reduce bacteria concentrations, residents are advised to minimise pollution sources, improve lawn irrigation, and use rain barrels or green infrastructure.
While Texas has an Oil Spill Prevention and Response program, Galveston Bay continues to face environmental risks due to shipping and industrial activity. Monitoring programs have detected elevated levels of toxins, including mercury and organic compounds, in the sediments of the bay and the Houston Ship Channel. To address these issues, the Galveston Bay Foundation provides advice on improving water quality through initiatives like the Galveston Bay Report Card.
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Oil spills are prevented by the Texas Oil Spill Prevention program
The Texas Oil Spill Prevention program is part of a wider strategy to prevent ocean pollution in Galveston. The Galveston County Health District (GCHD) participates in the Texas Beach Watch program, which tests for bacteria levels at 52 beach sites in the county. This program is designed to protect the health of those who use the beaches and waters of Galveston for recreation.
The Texas Beach Watch program is particularly concerned with the presence of enterococcus bacteria, which is an indicator of fecal contamination. This bacteria is found in the guts of birds and mammals, including humans, and can cause sickness such as rashes, skin irritation, and eye, ear, and respiratory infections. The program issues advisories when levels of enterococcus are too high, and these advisories are listed on their website.
In addition to the work of the Texas Beach Watch program, the Galveston Bay Report Card provides advice to local residents on how to improve water quality. This includes information on reducing pollution at home, and reducing runoff through more efficient lawn irrigation and the use of rain barrels. The Report Card also provides information on the toxins present in the sediments of Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, such as mercury and organic compounds.
Overall, the Texas Oil Spill Prevention program is an important part of a comprehensive strategy to prevent ocean pollution in Galveston, which includes monitoring and reducing bacteria levels, toxins, and nutrients, as well as promoting high oxygen levels to support aquatic life.
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Galveston Bay Action Network takes reports of toxic pollution
Galveston Bay has a long history of industrial activity, and while environmental regulations now exist to control the release of pollution, industrial activities still result in the release of pollutants, predominantly found in the Bay's sediment. Monitoring programs have found elevated concentrations of metals such as mercury, and organic compounds such as PCBs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediment.
The Texas Beach Watch program routinely tests 52 beach sites for a bacterial indicator called Enterococcus, which is common in rain runoff and often spikes after heavy rain. When levels are above the EPA standard for safe swimming, an advisory is issued for the beach.
To help reduce bacteria concentrations, the Galveston Bay Foundation advises local residents on how to improve water quality through the Galveston Bay Report Card. The Report Card also provides information on how to prevent nutrient pollution and reduce nitrogen and phosphorus levels in Galveston Bay. For example, it recommends using phosphate-free or phosphate-reduced soaps and incorporating landscaping techniques that require less fertilizer.
The Galveston Bay Action Network takes reports of toxic pollution. If you see possible toxic pollution in the watershed, you can report it to the Network, and your report will be sent directly to the appropriate authorities. Oil spills should also be reported to the Texas General Land Office (GLO) Oil Spill Prevention and Response Program.
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Galveston Bay Report Card provides advice on improving water quality
The Galveston Bay Report Card is a citizen-driven scientific analysis of the health of Galveston Bay. It is implemented by the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) and the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) and aims to encourage community members to take action to protect and preserve the Bay. The report card uses trends in data to analyze the over 7,000-square-mile Bay area and surrounding watersheds, including Galveston, Sugar Land, and Conroe.
The 2022 Report Card showed that the Bay's water quality was in "good shape", with acceptable levels of nutrients and dissolved oxygen for supporting diverse and healthy aquatic life. However, it also called for improved wildlife protection and provided advice to residents on how to maintain and improve water quality. This included picking up after their pets, avoiding pouring grease down the drain, and paying attention to seafood advisories. The report also urged residents to follow fishing guidelines and be aware of bird nesting sites to protect local wildlife.
To improve water quality, the report suggested reducing nitrogen and phosphorus levels in Galveston Bay. Nitrogen levels have been steadily improving in recent years, and residents are encouraged to follow fertilizer directions carefully and consider organic alternatives to reduce the amount of fertilizer used. Leaving property unpaved, planting rain gardens, and installing rain barrels can also help slow runoff and improve water quality.
The report also addressed the issue of oil spills and toxic contamination, which are environmental risks associated with Galveston Bay's industrial activity. While Texas' Oil Spill Prevention and Response program is known for its proactive initiatives, on average, 187 oil spills have been reported annually in Galveston Bay since 2009. The report advised residents to report any signs of oil spills to the relevant authorities and the Galveston Bay Action Network.
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Texas Beach Watch issues advisories when Enterococcus levels are unsafe
Galveston Bay has a long history of industrial activity, and while environmental regulations now exist to control the release of pollution, industrial activities still result in the release of pollutants, predominantly found in the Bay's sediment. Monitoring programs have found elevated concentrations of metals such as mercury, and organic compounds such as PCBs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sediment.
The Texas Beach Watch program routinely tests 52 beach sites in Galveston County for a bacterial indicator called Enterococcus. Enterococcus is a bacteria naturally found in the intestine and waste of all mammals, including humans. It is a valuable indicator for determining the presence of fecal contamination in recreational surface waters. Exposure to fecal bacteria can cause sickness such as rashes and skin irritation, as well as eye, ear, and respiratory infections.
When Enterococcus levels are above the EPA standard for safe swimming, an advisory is issued for the corresponding beach. Sites with elevated levels are tested daily until the level comes down, which typically takes approximately 48 hours. Advisories are indicated with a sign on the beach and online at TexasBeachWatch.com and www.gchd.org. When an advisory is issued, the affected beach is not closed. However, if you are a healthy adult who does not ingest the water or have open cuts or wounds, you are unlikely to become ill.
To reduce bacteria concentrations in the watershed, residents can reduce sources of pollution at home and reduce runoff from their property through more efficient lawn irrigation, the use of rain barrels, or the installation of green infrastructure. Additionally, properly disposing of used cooking fat, oil, and grease can help prevent burst sewer pipes.
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Frequently asked questions
Galveston Bay Foundation provides advice for local residents on how to improve water quality through the Galveston Bay Report Card, at galvbaygrade.org/what-you-can-do/. The organisation also encourages people to report pollution using the Galveston Bay Action Network.
The main causes of ocean pollution in Galveston are oil spills, toxic contamination, and wastewater from human activity.
People can help by using natural-ingredient cleaning products, reducing sources of pollution at home, and reducing runoff from their property through more efficient lawn irrigation, use of rain barrels, or the installation of green infrastructure.
