(Nantucket) Governor Cellucci took advantage of a perfect summer day on Nantucket to sign the so-called Beaches Bill to protect Massachusetts swimmers.

"Summer in Massachusetts doesn’t get much better than today," said Elizabeth Sturcken, chair of the Massachusetts Chapter of Surfrider Foundation "The question has always been, ‘Is the water really clean?’ Because of the Beaches Law no one will ever have to walk blindly into unsafe polluted water. Next year all of Massachusetts beaches will be tested at least once a week with a scientifically-accurate test and if they are found to be unsafe to swim in, they will be posted with a warning sign."

A recent report released by the Environmental League of Massachusetts, Surfrider Foundation, and MASSPIRG found that only about one-third of beaches in the state are tested for pollutants at least weekly. And only 42% of the 278 beaches surveyed in the report use state-of-the-art testing methods. Under the Beaches Bill, standards for water quality monitoring and disclosure at nearly 1,000 beaches in Massachusetts will be strengthened significantly.

Each year, more than a billion gallons of untreated or partially treated sewage are discharged into state waterways. From 1991 through 1998, there were at least 828 beach closings or advisories in coastal areas of the state, but it is unknown how many more advisories or closings there would have been had the water been tested adequately.

"Families don’t plan a pleasant day around the sewer pipe," said Pam DiBona, Legislative Director for the Environmental League of Massachusetts. "Once we have consistent testing at the beaches, we can begin to solve some of these ongoing pollution problems. Now families will have one less thing to worry about when taking their family to the beach."

"We are looking forward to telling swimmers that their beaches are being tested-and that they’ll know what they’re diving into." said DiBona

The Beaches Bill (H.3134) will require:

Disease-causing microorganisms in contaminated waters can cause a wide range of diseases, including gastroenteritis; dysentery; hepatitis; ear, nose, and throat problems; and respiratory illness. The consequences of these swimming-associated illnesses can be greater for children, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems.

"Until now we have had no state law requiring that beach water be regularly monitored for safety with an up-to-date test. We have had no law requiring that beachgoers be told when the water they swim in is polluted. This will correct that." said Sturcken.

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