## GREAT LAKES BEACH SANITARY SURVEY USER MANUAL United States Office of Water EPA-823-B-06-001 Environmental Protection 4305 May 2008 AgencyGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 iiGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 iii 

## Executive Summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develope d this Beach Sanitary Survey Tool as part of the 2004 Great Lakes Regional Collaborati on (GLRC) to provide beach manage rs with a technically sound and consistent approach to identify pollution sources and sh are information. The beach sanitary survey provides a method for developing a documented historical record of beach and watershed water quality. It serves as a baseline to which future assessments of the overall hea lth of the beach and watershed can be compared, and it enables beach managers to perform long-range water quality and resource planning. The tool will help beach managers collect and share pollutant data for watershe d assessments, use the data in predictive models, and better enable them to remediate b acterial pollution sources to beaches.

EPA developed two types of beach sanitary surveys––the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey and the Annual Sanitary Survey ––to assist with short- and long-term beach assessments, respectively. The Routine On-site Sanitary Survey is performed at the same time that water quality samples are taken. It includes a form, which can be used to document the methods used to collect data during the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey . The Annual Sanitary Survey records information about factors in the su rrounding watershed that might affect water quality at the beach. This survey includes, for exam ple, information on septic tanks in the contributing watershed and land use information. Both surveys includ e forms to help document the information collected durin the survey. These forms are in paper and electronic format.

EPA initially developed a draft Beac h Sanitary Survey Tool in 2006. In the summer of 2007, the Beach Sanitary Survey Tool was tested at 61 beaches in the Great Lakes. The state and local governments testing the tool provided comments to EPA, who then used these co mments to develop this final Beach Sanitary Survey Tool.

For more information on the EPA Beach Program and on beach sanitary surveys, please contact: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, BEACH Program (4305T), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20460. Information about the B each Sanitary Survey Tool is also available on the BEACH Program webpage: www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 iv 

## Contents

1. Overview ....................................................................................................................

.............................. 1-1 2. Introduction................................................................................................................

............................. 2-1 2.1 Why did EPA create the Great La kes Beach Sanitary Survey?

....................................................... 2-1 2.2 What is the Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey?

........................................................................... 2-1 2.3 What are the benefits of the Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey?

................................................. 2-1 2.4 Who are the intended us ers of the survey? ..................................................................................

.... 2-1 2.5 How can the Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Surv ey be used in a BEACH Act Grant Program? ....... 2-1 2.6 How is this user ma nual organized? .........................................................................................

....... 2-2 3. Types of Beach Sanitary Surveys .............................................................................................

............. 3-1 3.1 Background.................................................................................................................

..................... 3-1 3.2 Survey forms...............................................................................................................

..................... 3-1 3.3 When should beach sani tary surveys be conducted? ....................................................................... 3-1 4. Steps for Conducting a Beach Sanitary Survey

................................................................................ ... 4-1 4.1 Seek the assistance of professional staff..................................................................................

........ 4-1 4.2 Make an initial assessment of a beach

...................................................................................... ....... 4-1 4.3 Make an initial assessment of the contributing watershed............................................................... 4-1 4.4 Determine the purpose and identify the appropriate form

............................................................... 4-2 4.5 Use trained staff

.......................................................................................................... ..................... 4-2 4.6 Collect data ...............................................................................................................

....................... 4-3 4.7 Docume nt all observati ons and data sources .................................................................................

.. 4-3 4.8 Consider health and safety.................................................................................................

.............. 4-3 4.9 Record data for the Annual Sanitary Survey

................................................................................. .. 4-4 4.10 Record ma nagement.........................................................................................................

................ 4-4 4.11 Next steps................................................................................................................

......................... 4-4 5. Data Elements for the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey .................................................................... 5-1 5.1 General conditions

......................................................................................................... .................. 5-1 5.2 Water quality..............................................................................................................

...................... 5-5 5.3 Bather load................................................................................................................

....................... 5-8 5.4 Potential pollutant sources ................................................................................................

............... 5-9 6. Data Elements for the Annual Sanitary Survey................................................................................

... 6-1 6.1 Basic information

.......................................................................................................... ................... 6-1 6.2 Description of land use in the watershed ...................................................................................

...... 6-1 6.3 Weather conditions

......................................................................................................... ................. 6-5 6.4 Physical beach conditions..................................................................................................

.............. 6-6 6.5 Bather load................................................................................................................

....................... 6-8 6.6 Beach cleaning

............................................................................................................. .................... 6-8 6.7 Information on sam pling location...........................................................................................

......... 6-9 6.8 Water quality sampling

..................................................................................................... ............. 6-10 6.9 Modeling...................................................................................................................

..................... 6-14 6.10 Advisories/Closings .......................................................................................................

................ 6-14 6.11 Potential pollutant sources ...............................................................................................

.............. 6-15 6.12 Description of sanitary faci lities and other facilities ...................................................................

.. 6-15 7. References..................................................................................................................

.............................. 7-1Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 v Appendix A. Routine On-site Sanitary Survey Form............................................................................... A-1 Appendix B. Routine On-site Sanitary Survey Methods Form ............................................................... B-1 Appendix C. Annual Sanitary Survey Form

........................................................................................ ..... C-1 Appendix D. Quality Assurance and Quality Control

.............................................................................. D-1 Appendix E. Equipment and Supplies ............................................................................................. .......... E-1 Appendix F: Sampling and Analyt ical Methods for Bacteria ................................................................. F-1Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 viGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 1-1 

## 1. Overview

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develope d this Beach Sanitary Survey Tool as part of the 2004 Great Lakes Regional Collaborati on (GLRC) to provide beach manage rs with a technically sound and consistent approach to identify pollu tant sources and share information.

The GLRC is a wide-ranging, cooperative effort to de sign and implement a strategy for the restoration, protection, and sustainable use of th e Great Lakes. It was created by pr esidential executive order in May 2004. The Executive Order recogni zed the Great Lakes as a national treasure and created a federal Great Lakes Interagency Task Force (GLITF) to improve federal coor dination in addressing Great Lakes issues. EPA is the lead agency responsible for coor dinating and implementing the GLRC.

In December 2005 EPA selected eight near-term prio ritized actions in the Great Lakes Strategy for implementation. One of these actions is the development of a standardized approach to help beach managers identify sources of contamination at beaches. The tool wi ll help beach managers collect and share pollutant data for watershed assessments, use the data in predictive m odels, and take action to remediate bacterial pollutant sources to reduce public exposure to fecal bacterial contaminati on while swimming at the beach.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 1-2Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 2-1 

## 2. Introduction

2.1 Why did EPA create the Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey?
EPA developed the Beach Sanitary Survey Tool to he lp beach managers in the Great Lakes synthesize all contributing beach and watershed information––including wa ter quality data, pollutant source data, and land use data––so that they can improve Great Lakes water quality for swimming. This beach sanitary survey tool is tailored to the beach environment in the Great Lakes. In addition, beach managers can use sanitary survey data (e.g., bacteria levels, source flow, turbidity, rainfall) to develop models to predic t daily bathing beach water quality, if appropriate.

State beach program managers can use the data collected and synthesized by means of a sanitary survey to prioritize which beaches to monitor as part of a BEACH Act monitoring and notification program. The EPA BEACH Act Grant program provides grants to states, territories, and tribes for beach monitoring and notification programs. As part of the program, states are required to prioritize beaches for monitoring.



### 2.2 What is the Great Lake s Beach Sanitary Survey?
The survey consists of three forms in paper and electroni c format. One survey form is the routine on-site survey, which is designed to be filled out each time water quality samples are taken. The information for this form is collected by observation and measurement at or near th e beach. The second form is the methods form, which documents the methods used for measurement in the routine form. The third form is the annual survey form, which records information about factors in the surroundi ng watershed that might affect water quality at the beach. This form might include, for example, informati on on septic tanks in the c ontributing watershed or land use information, depending on the beach being surveyed.



### 2.3 What are the benefits of the Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey?
The beach sanitary survey provides a documented historic al record of beach and watershed water quality. It serves as a baseline to which future beach and waters hed assessments of the overa ll health of the beach and watershed can be compared, and it enables beach manage rs to perform long-range water quality and resource planning. The sanitary survey also provides support for enforcement ac tions by establishing a record of conditions and operations at a point in time. The information in the survey also benefits stormwater program managers, wastewater facility managers, local elected offi cials, local planning authori ties, academic researchers, and other Great Lakes beach and water quality professionals.



### 2.4 Who are the intended users of the survey?
Local beach managers and public health officials can use the survey to identify bacterial sources of pollutants affecting beaches, assess beach health, shar e information, and conduct watershed planning.



### 2.5 How can the Great Lakes Beach Sanitar y Survey be used in a BEACH Act Grant Program?
The Beach Sanitary Survey will help beach managers meet the requirements of the BEACH Act Grant Program, as described in the National Beach Guidance and Require d Performance Criteria for Grants (USEPA 2002b).Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 2-2 The Beach Guidance document lists nine grant performa nce criteria a state must meet when developing and implementing a beach monitoring and notification program . Two grant performance criteria suggest using a sanitary survey to develop a risk-b ased approach and to develop a tiere d plan for developing and implementing a beach monitoring and notification program. Additional references to sanitary surveys are provided in Appendices F and G of the Beach Guidance document (USEPA 2002b).

In Chapters 3, 4, and 5 and Appendix K, the Beach Guid ance document also descri bes the use of predictive tools and models to minimize swimmer risk at the beach (USEPA 2002b). Models are used at coastal and Great Lakes beaches across the nation. Using a beach sanitary survey will help a beach ma nager identify the beaches where a model would benefit the beach monitoring and notification program.



### 2.6 How is this user manual organized?

This user manual is intended to be used as a refere nce for the sanitary survey forms that EPA developed. Section 3 describes the sanitary survey forms and provides background information on the sanitary survey process. Section 4 describes steps to consider in preparing to conduct a sanitary survey. Sections 5 and 6 provide detailed information on how to complete each type of survey. The data elements for the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey are given in Section 5, and the data elements for the Annual Sanitary Survey are given in Section 6. The subsection numbers correspond with th e numbered sections of the survey forms.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 3-1 

## 3. Types of Beach Sanitary Surveys

3.1 Background
Because beaches are dynamic systems, they need to be ga uged frequently for short- and long-term health risks. EPA has developed two types of beach sanitary surveys––the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey and the Annual Sanitary Survey ––to assist with short- and long-term assessments. The Routine On-site Sanitary Survey is performed with water quality samples, and it supports the annual survey. In additio n, EPA also developed the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey Methods form, which can be used to document the methods used to collect data during the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey

.


### 3.2 Survey forms
The beach sanitary survey offers two different approach es to collect and assess information. The three forms are briefly described here and fully described in Sections 5 and 6.

1. The Routine On-site Sanitary Survey is designed to be used each tim e a water sample is collected during regular bacterial monitoring to supplement info rmation collected during water quality sampling. The survey will help to provide useful informati on on water quality to support the annual surveys. The Routine On-site Sanitary Survey will help identify unde rlying conditions at the beach that can be observed frequently (e.g., wind speed and direction, wave height, rain fall) and that can contribute to microbiological contamination of the recreational waters and beach areas. This survey is more local and site-specific than the Annual Sanitary Survey . The Routine On-site Sanitary Survey form is in Appendix A.

2. The Routine On-site Sanitary Survey Methods Form is designed as a way to document the methods used when collecting data for the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey . The form is in Appendix B.

3. The Annual Sanitary Survey requires the same type of information collected for the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey plus area maps, annual and seasonal tre nds, and additional information on potential sources of contamination. This surv ey expands geographically to incl ude the contributing watershed and surrounding shoreline. The Annual Sanitary Survey form is in Appendix C.



### 3.3 When should beach sanitary surveys be conducted?
Beach sanitary surveys should be conducted to develop or continue a historic record of beach conditions and sources of pollutants. They should be used when ne w beaches open, at the beginning of the swimming season, and when beaches have been identified as problem areas. In addition, you could perform sanitary surveys periodically during a swimming season, when an emergency situation occurs, when a bacterial exceedance is detected, or more frequently (depen ding on the length of the bathing season ) to assess sudden changes in beach water quality (CTDEP 1992; Figueras et al. 2000; Great Lakes-Upper Mississipp i River Board of State Sanitary Engineers 1990).Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 3-2 

### Routine On-site Sanitary Survey This survey is a simple, two-page form and it should be completed every time water quality sampling is performed throughout the beach season. Over time, collecting additional data with every sample will aid those looking for correlation between conditions at the beach and water quality (i.e., indicator bacteria levels), leading to the development of predictive models. The data will help show whether bacteria levels correlate to other parameters or observable conditions at a beach. Before you conduct your first Routine On-site Sanitary Survey

, perform an initial assessment of the beach. Review all av ailable information about the beach, including historical data and knowledge, uses, a nd possible sources of bacterial cont amination. EPA recommends that you perform at least one Routine On-site Sanitary Survey before the start of the swimming season.



### Routine On-site Sanitary Survey Methods This form, a companion form to the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey , should be completed when you do the first Routine On-site Sanitary Survey , likely at the beginning of the beach se ason. You do not need to complete this form again during the beach season unle ss any of the methods you use change.



### Annual Sanitary Survey Ideally, an annual survey should be conducted on each b each once a year to determine the condition of the beach, locate potential pollutant sources, and determine whether there are other issu es that can affect water quality. This survey can be performe d at the end of a beach season, before the next season begins. That way, you can determine whether you should make any changes to your monitoring program before the next season
starts.

In addition, a sanitary survey should be conducted as part of any proposal to expand or develop a recreational beach area or when a newly proposed activity would significantly alter the wate r quality in an existing recreational beach area. Beach managers should use the findings of the survey as a prime consideration in any decision to proceed with development. In some states , such as Maryland, a permit for operating a bathing beach may not be issued if a detailed san itary survey reveals source s of pollutants that affect or might affect the bathing beach (Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 1978).Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 4-1 

## 4. Steps for Conducting a Beach Sanitary Survey

4.1 Seek the assistance of professional staff
Before you begin preparing to conduct a beach sanitary, if possible, cons ult a public health official or a registered sanitarian. EPA recommends th at a public health offici al or registered sanitari an from a state, tribal, or local agency maintain primary responsibility for overs eeing the performance of annua l sanitary surveys at the beach. Lifeguards or citizen volunteers may be used to help complete or gather information for Routine On-site Sanitary Surveys at the same sampling stations at which they perform bacterial m onitoring for a state, tribal, or local agency. Volunteers should be pr operly trained in completing the surv ey forms and in using the methods chosen to collect information fo r the survey (see Section 4.5).



### 4.2 Make an initial assessment of a beach
The next step in preparing to conduct a sanitary survey is to make an initial assessment of all beaches to identify at which beaches a sanitary survey should be con ducted. During this assessment, compile known data on beaches with past problems and beaches that have and have not been sampled for microbial analysis.



### 4.3 Make an initial assessment of the contributing watershed
The watershed, basin, or land area contributing runoff to a beach can vary widely depending on the beach. For some beaches, the contributing area could be simply the area from the dunes down to the shoreline. There might not be a stream or river nearby that is contributing drainage from a large land area. The water in the lake might be coming from other watersheds through long-shore curren ts; in such a case, you might want to investigate the direction from which water entering the system is comi ng. During the initial assessment, you might not be sure about whether an area is a contributing area. The sanitary survey process can be used to investigate further and rule something out or confirm that it is contributing draina ge to the beach.

As part of the initial a ssessment, you should consider information fr om other Clean Water Act programs that might provide relevant water quality da ta and information on potential sources of pollutants affecting the beach.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) . The NPDES permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Industrial, municipal, and other f acilities must obtain permits if thei r discharges go directly to surface waters. For more information on the NPDES permit program, see http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes

.
Nonpoint Source Management Pr ogram (Clean Water Act 319) . The Clean Water Act section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program helps focus st ate, tribal, and local government nonpoint source efforts. Under section 319, states, te rritories, and Indian tribes receiv e grant money that supports a wide variety of activities, including monitoring to assess the success of specific nonpoint source implementation projects. For more information on the section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program, see www.epa.gov/nps

.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program . States develop TMDLs for waterbodies that are listed as water quality-limited or impaired because of pol lution, including fecal contamination. A TMDLGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 4-2 identifies the pollutant sources and the necessary re ductions in those sources to achieve meeting water quality standards. For more information on the TMDL program, see www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl.

305(b) water quality reports. Under section 305(b) of the Clean Wate r Act, states are required to submit a biannual report to EPA that prov ides water quality information (i ncluding information on 303[d]-listed waters) to the public. The information the stat es provide serves as the basis for EPA’s National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress . This document characterizes the water quality, identifies widespread water quality problems of national significance, and descri bes various programs implemented to restore and protect waters throughout the United States. For more information on 305(b) reports, see www.epa.gov/305b.



### 4.4 Determine the purpose and identify the appropriate form

Once the beaches have been assessed and identified for a sanitary survey, determin e the purpose of the survey and develop a plan. The plan should have goals and timelines to iden tify sources, gather data, conduct monitoring, analyze results, develop a sa nitary survey report, a nd discuss next steps. EPA developed two types of survey forms ( Routine On-site Sanitary Survey and Annual Sanitary Survey ), along with the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey Methods form, on the basis of how frequently th e surveys would be performed and what resources would be available to the beach manager. For a detailed description of th e forms and their uses, see Sections 3.2 and 3.3 of this document.

The sanitary survey forms will help you to determine the following:

1. An approach to address all the data elements nece ssary to complete the forms and best describe the conditions at a beach 2. What data elements are currently collected through an existing monitoring plan and what additional data elements need to be collected 3. The equipment and supplies needed to collect the data 4. The agencies or groups responsible fo r collecting and analyzing the data

Sections 5 and 6 provide desc riptions of the survey data fields. Not a ll of the questions on the survey forms are applicable to all beaches. In addition, you might want to collect specific data fo r your beach that are not included on the forms. You can amend the form s to best fit the needs of your beaches.



### 4.5 Use trained staff
The staff who perform the sanitary surveys should be adequately traine d in sampling procedures, equipment use, completing forms, and health and safety precautions before they begin to perform sanitary surveys. EPA recommends that relevant quality assurance (QA) documentation (e.g., qual ity assurance project plan, sampling and analysis plan, standard operating procedures [SOPs]) be distributed to all participants during training. The training should stress the importance and relevance of th e sanitary surveys in helping to identify potential sources of contamination, how to conduct quality contro l (QC) activities, and how to follow the protocols specified in the SOPs. The quality of information produced by the sanitary surveys depends on the quality of the work that the field staff and others involved in the beach program perf orm. Follow-up or continuing training should be held as needed for as l ong as the sanitary surveys are perf ormed. For more information on QA/QC, see Appendix D.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 4-3 

### 4.6 Collect data
Now that you have identified the beaches to survey and the data to be collected, it’s time to collect data. Gather maps and use tools like global positi oning system (GPS) units to identify the locations of beach sampling stations, pollutant sources, and watershed uses.

Sources of maps include the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), county/state offices, online companies (e.g., GoogleEarth), and others. Order USGS topographic maps for your watershed (see http://topomaps.usgs.gov/ordering_maps.html) . Think about other sources of data for your beach and watershed, such as local or state universities or other government offices. Sources of data might vary depending on your beach location and the level of interest in your region. For more ideas on where to find data, see Section 6.2.

Collect water quality data and other parameter data at a beach to complete the Routine On-site Survey and meet the data needs you identified for the Annual Sanitary Survey in section 4.3.

Follow the QA/QC procedures listed in Appendix D.



### 4.7 Document all observations and data sources
No field data collection is complete without basic information on who colle cted the data and when. Sometimes basic field observations that might s eem insignificant turn out to be very important, but they won’t be useful unless they are documented. Also, othe r personnel will likely use the data you collect in the future, and your documentation will be essential to th eir ability to understand the data.



### 4.8 Consider health and safety
Health and safety should be a key consideration fo r all volunteers and others engaged in surveying and monitoring. The fact that surveying and sampling might focus on areas in close proximity to combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary se wer overflows (SSOs) and might be conducted during periods of beach closure suggests that the risk of pot ential exposure to pathogenic agents w ill be higher than th at of recreational beach users. Heightened awareness of personal protection is the responsibility of ev ery member of the survey team. The effective use of basic personal protective equipment and supplies can sign ificantly limit exposure to potentially infectious waters. For instance,

• Limit exposure of any open wounds to survey site waters.

• Carry a hand sanitizer, and use it immediately after working at each survey location. (Use care when collecting samples not to make any contact wi th the inside of the sample containers.)

• Wear latex gloves, rubber boots, and safety glasses when contact is required or during sampling to minimize the potential for direct exposure to surface waters that are potentially contaminated.

• Carry a spray bottle with dilute bleach solution as part of your survey supplies for immediate disinfection if accident al exposure occurs.

• Practice good personal hygiene.

— Avoid direct hand-to-mouth, -nose, or -face contact in the field.

— Avoid eating, drinking, or chewing gum during site surveys. Delay drinking or consuming snacks and meals until you have removed all personal protective equipment and washed your hands and face thoroughly.

— Promptly shower and wash your clothing w ith hot water after a day of surveying.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 4-4 Although your survey activity might not en tail longer or closer c ontact with surface wate r than the exposure of bathers, fishermen, or others, surveys might be requi red in less desirable areas or during beach closures mandated by measured exceedances of recreational standards.



### 4.9 Record data for the Annual Sanitary Survey
Once you have collected your data, use the data to complete an Annual Sanitary Survey . All field data should be entered onto the paper form and stored electronically. It is important to provi de all data to and consult with a sanitarian or public health official when analyzing the data and assessing the effect s of a pollutant source on a beach.



### 4.10 Record management

As mentioned earlier, ever ything should be well documented, includi ng the person who enters the data, the person who completes the survey form, sources of inform ation, and so forth. All paper copies of survey forms should be collected and stored together and scanned into an electronic form at, if possible, so that electronic files can be stored. EPA suggests recording the su rvey data in a locally accessible database.



### 4.11 Next steps
Analysis of survey results . Although you will perform some analyses wh ile conducting the sanitary survey (the annual survey in particular), once yo u are finished with the surveys, you should go through th e survey results thoroughly and develop a Sanitary Survey Re port (see the following paragraph). For the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey , you should evaluate the results at the end of th e beach season (which might be done as part of the Annual Sanitary Survey ), as well as periodically throughout the season. Evaluating the survey results during the beach season can help you identify trends that you should be aware of , such as “rainfall over 0.5 in. correlates with high bacteria counts,” or “algae growth has be come worse and needs to be dealt with.” You should also evaluate whether you are co llecting appropriate data, whether your methods of data collection need to be adjusted, or both.

Sanitary Survey Report . A written Sanitary Survey Report is needed to integrate the data into a comprehensive information analysis. This report must incl ude a compilation of all data collected, an analysis of those data using recognized statistical techniques to determine adverse pollution conditions, conclusions as to the appropriate monitoring strategy a nd frequency, and recommendations for necessary follow-up actions such as remediation efforts or further investigations.

Resource allocation and beach assessment . Analyzing the sanitary survey will help you determine data trends and correlations with bacteria sample results. It will provide you with more inform ation to identify pollutant sources and their contribution to wate r quality impairment. That informati on, in turn, will help you decide on future allocation of resources and pos sible remediation needs. The inform ation will also help you to more effectively prioritize beaches for mon itoring frequency and resource allocation.

The sanitary survey can help you determine the best frequency of monitoring (e .g., daily, biweekly, weekly, monthly); the number of samp les that should be collected (e.g., one sa mple collected every 500 meters); and the types of remediation activities that should be perf ormed at your beach (e.g., pet owner education, improved plumbing at public restrooms).Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 4-5 Remediation steps . The results of the sanitary survey will help a beach manager identify persistent problems, sources of pollutants, and the magnitude of pollution from those sources. The beach manager will have a documented record of the pollutant s ources to use to propose management act ions, enforcement, and options to control sources. Once the source and exte nt of pollutants are determined, a ppropriate remediation activities can be planned with the assistan ce and collaboration of federal, state, and local programs.

Modeling . Data from beach sanitary surveys might help a beach manager identify factors that correlate with bacteria counts in the water. It might be possible to develop a predictive model using these data. A predictive model can benefit a beach monitoring and notification program by allowing beach managers to make advisory decisions based on predicted high le vels of pathogens before people become exposed. An example of a predictive model that is relatively easy to develop is the rainfall advisory model , which statistically correlates the bacteria results with rainfall data collected during the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey

.
Sharing information . As part of the sanitary survey process, you may choose to store the survey data electronically. This approach will ma ke it easier for you to share your data with other counties and states.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 4-6Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-1 

## 5. Data Elements for the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey

This section describes th e data fields for the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey . For each data field, it gives an example of the data followed by a detailed description and an explanation of methods that you can use to collect the data. Section 6 provides the data fields for the Annual Sanitary Survey

.

The Routine On-site Sanitary Survey is designed to be filled out each time a water sample is taken for bacterial analysis. The information requested in this form is prim arily information that can be gathered locally, at the beach.



### 5.1 General conditions

Air temperature

Example

75 ° F, 24 ° C

Description Air temperature, in combination with other conditions and situations, su ch as timing (e.g., after significant rainfall) or a particular wind direction, can increase of the likeli hood of higher levels of microorganisms at certain times.

Methods Liquid-in-glass thermometers are the mo st common types of thermometers because they are easy to read and inexpensive to manufacture. Highly accurate electrical thermometers measure temperature by measuring the electrical resistance of some material . Because the resistance of these materials changes with temperature, the resistance can be measured and calibrated to the temperature.

Temperature measurements are typica lly taken at 1.5 meters above grassy surfaces. Ideally, the thermometer should be housed in an instrument sh elter that is away from materials that might absorb heat and prevent an accurate air temperature reading. All ai r temperature readings are conducted in the shade to prevent sunlight from warming the liquid in the thermometer. Instrument shelters should allow air to flow through freely to ensure that the air in the shelter is not warmed by th e shelter itself.

Report air temperature in the Fahrenheit or Celsius temp erature scale, specifying which one was used. If both scales are available, the Celsius scal e is preferred because it was developed for and is most commonly used for scientific purposes.



### Rainfall

Example Yes, rainfall occurred during the past 72 hours. Rainfall amount was 1.2 inches.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-2 Description Bacterial contamination at bathing beaches can result fr om rain events. CSO discharges can occur during heavy rainfall events and can reach bathing beaches, caus ing contamination problems. In addition, nonpoint source pollution of bathing beaches can be caused by rain fall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground and carrying natural and human-made po llutants into the receiving water.

Rainfall measurements can be used in models to pred ict bacterial contamination at bathing beaches during rainfall events (USEPA 1999). It is also important to document whether the rain even t occurred within 72 hours of a previous rain event to help differentiate betw een dry-weather and wet-weather contamination sources.

Rain intensity should also be noted. Rain events that are of short dura tion but high intensity can cause higher runoff than longer rain events of low intensity, possibly co rrelating more with increased bacteria levels in the
water.

Methods
Record the amount of rainfall in inch es or centimeters, as well as the time (24, 48, 72, or more hours) since the rainfall event occurred. If rainfall is measured using a ra in gauge near the sampling st ations (weather station or airport), record the distance from the rain gauge in miles. Also note the in tensity of the rainfall.



### Wind speed and direction

Example East at 5 knots or light breeze

Description A description of the wind speed a nd direction using the Beaufort Wi nd Scale, which can be found at www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/beaufort.html , might provide valuable inform ation concerning the actual or potential effect of pollutant transport to the area.

Methods
Wind is difficult for forecasters to measure because wi nd speed and direction can va ry quickly and abruptly over short distances, especially in cities and other areas with many obstructions.

An anemometer is the main instrument used to measur e the speed of the wind. It co nsists of three or four hemispheric cups, mounted on each end of a pair of horizontal arms, which lie at equal angles to each other. A vertical shaft that the cups turn passes through the center of the arms, a nd a train of wheel-work counts the number of turns the shaft makes. From the number of turns made in any give n period, the velocity of the wind during that period is calculated.

Aerovanes are commonly used at many weather stations and airports to measure wind direction and speed. The tail orients the instrument into the wind for di rection, while the propellers measure the wind speed.

If you don’t have the necessary equipment to measure wind speed and direction, you can provide data from a nearby weather station, ideally one w ithin a 5-mile radius of the beac h. If you use this method, note in the survey the distan ce to the station.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-3 Wind direction is always reported as the direction from which the wind is coming. In other words, a north wind pushes air from the north to the south. When reporting wind speeds, always provide the units (e.g., miles per hour [mph], kilometers per hour [k mh], knots). (1 knot = 1.15 mph.)



### Sky conditions

Example Partly cloudy

Description The predominant/average sky condition is described by using octants (eig hths) of the sky covered by opaque (not transparent) clouds. The Nati onal Oceanic and Atmospheric Admini stration (NOAA) uses the following scale:

Sky condition Cloud coverage Sunny 0/8 Mostly sunny 1/8–2/8 Partly cloudy 3/8–4/8 Mostly cloudy 5/8–7/8 Cloudy 8/8

Method Estimate the weather or provide inform ation from a nearby weather station.



### Wave height

Example Normal intensity, 1–2 feet in height (estimated)

Description Waves are the main source of energy that causes beaches to change in size, shape, and sediment type. They also move marine debris between the beach and the offs hore zone. Waves are genera ted by the wind blowing over water. Waves formed where the wind is blowing, which are often irregula r, are called wind waves. As these waves move away from the area where the wind is blowi ng, they sort themselves ou t into groups with similar speeds and form regular pa tterns known as swells.

The three main characteristics of waves are the height , the wavelength, and the di rection from which they approach. Wave height is the vertical distance from the crest of the wave to the trough . Wavelength is the time, measured in seconds, between two successive wave cres ts. Wave direction is the direction from which the waves approach.

Bacteria permeating wet sands can be carried away by wave s, increasing bacteria levels in the adjacent waters. Studies at beaches along the southern shore of Lake Michigan ha ve also shown that Escherichia coli concentrations in the sands of the swash zone are high, or higher, than those of the water (Whitman et al. 1999). When storm winds initiate waves and direct them onto the beaches, the foreshore sand is eroded and “stored”Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-4 bacteria are released into the water, raising the E. coli concentrations to levels a bove the allowable threshold for full body contact (Whitman et al. 1999; Haack et al. 2002).

Method Wave height is measured by carrying a graduated stick or a ranging pole (a pole with measured sections in red and white) out into the water to just seaward of wher e the waves are breaking and then recording where the wave crest and the following wave tr ough cut the stick. The difference betw een the two is the wave height. Alternatively, you can estimate the wave height. Such estim ates should be made in the units with which you are most comfortable. Often it is best to have two observers independently es timate wave height and then compare their results. Measure or estimate the hei ght of at least five sepa rate waves, and then take the average. Also note the wave intensity on the survey form.



### Longshore current speed and direction

Example Current is moving toward the east at approximately 5 centimeters per second.

Description A longshore or littoral current is in the surf zone and runs parallel to the shore as a result of waves breaking at an angle on the shore. The current speed and direction are critical parameters that help to identify the actual or potential effect of pollutant transport to the area, as well as to predict poten tial unhealthy conditions from known outfalls in the vicinity of the beach.

Methods A number of models are available to accurately m easure longshore current speed. They require several measured parameters and meters to capture the varying current speeds.

It is possible to estimate the longshore current spee d and direction using a stick, line, ball, and watch. A practical and inexpensive technique fo r measuring the longshore current speed is shown here, adapted from the Education Program at the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium ( www.njmsc.org/Education/Less on_Plans/LongshoreCurrent.pdf ). You’ll need a meter stick (or other measuring device), an orange or two, a watc h with a second hand, and at least two people.

Procedure

1. Measure off and draw a 10-meter line in the sand parallel to the waterbody. 2. Position one person at each end of the line you ha ve drawn. One person should assume the role of timekeeper and have a watch with a second hand. 3. Throw an orange (or a piece of driftw ood) into the water, just behind th e line of breakers, approximately 2 meters upstream of the beginning of your line. Note: The longshore current is closer to the shore than you might expect! All persons should watch the orange as it moves. 4. When the orange passes the beginning of the line, the timekeeper starts timing. 5. When the orange passes the person st ationed at the end of the line, th at person tells the timekeeper to stop timing. Record the time. 6. If time permits, repeat this process so you can calculate the average of the two (or three) trials. You can repeat it in a different ar ea along the beach as well.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-5 7. Using the formula of speed = (distance / time) , calculate the speed of the l ongshore current for all trials, and then calculate the aver age of the longshore current. 8. This procedure is not fool proof. If the orange does not move afte r a few minutes, try again. If you can’t get this to work at all, it might be because of weather conditions, or there might not be a longshore current at all.

To measure direction, you can observe the direction the orange flows in th e above procedure. Alternatively, you can use a dye tablet. For this, place th e dye tablet into the water (this ca n be done at the same time that you place the orange in the water for th e above procedure). The observers on the beach watch and record the direction in which the dye moves. Cu rrent direction, recorded in degrees, is the direction toward which the current is going (as in 0 to 180 degrees, 0 being nort h, 45 east, 90 south, and 135 west). If a current is going from north to south, the current direc tion is recorded as south or south-go ing; similarly, a current going from east to west is recorded as west or west-going. (This is the oppos ite of wind direction, which is recorded as the direction from which the wind is blowing.)

Measurements of speed and direction can be repeated at several different places along the beach to see if the current speed and direction are the same or if they vary.

In addition, satellite imagery might be available for you to use to detect the movement of a plume along the beach.



### 5.2 Water quality

Bacteria samples collected

Example Sample Point: 1-A Sample ID: 100002 Parameter: E. coli Comments: Grab sample collected at knee depth

Description
Fecal bacteria have been used as an indicator of the possible presence of pathogens in surface waters and the risk of disease, on the basis of epidemiological ev idence of gastrointestinal disorders from ingesting contaminated surface water or raw shellf ish. Contact with contaminated water can lead to ear or skin infections, and inhaling contaminated water can cause respiratory diseases. The pathogens resp onsible for these diseases can be bacteria, viruses, prot ozoans, fungi, or parasites that live in the gastrointestinal tract and are shed in the feces of warm-blooded animals.

Enterococci and E. coli are used as the primary indicators of fecal contamination and are recommended as the basis for bacterial water quality standards in EPA’s 1986 Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria document (both for fresh waters, enterococci for marine waters). The standards are defi ned as a concentration of the indicator above which the health risk fr om waterborne disease is unacceptably high.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-6 Methods Qualified local laboratory services ar e a tremendous information resource. In addition to providing analytical support for monitoring recreati onal waters for pathogens, laboratories ty pically provide their own sterilized sample containers and custody documents to record da tes, times, and sampling lo cations. Local laboratories often provide training for sampling pe rsonnel or offer laminated sampling gui des to assist sampling staff in appropriately collecting samples and completing samp le documentation. Sampling procedures should be developed into SOPs on the basis of the variety of samp ling requirements for the targ et sites. (For example, variable accessibility and sampling de pths in the monitoring design might re quire that different techniques be employed at different locations.) In ge neral, samples should be collected at the desired depth(s) directly into sterilized containers, seale d, labeled, and chilled for tran sport to the local laboratory.

If you are taking samples while wading, take care not to disturb bottom sediments or substrates as you sample. Pathogens adhere to solids, and exce ssive resuspension might produce results that exceed local advisory limits.

The first sample collected for the day should be a field blank. A field blank is simply a volume of reagent water or sterilized buffer solution transporte d to the field and transferred into a sample container to assess potential contamination from the sampling technique.

Duplicate samples, if included in th e monitoring design, should be collecte d simultaneously if possible (if two containers can be held at once in one hand). If two cont ainers can’t be managed with out spillage, the duplicates should be collected sequentially.

Chapter 4 and Appendix J of the National Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants (USEPA 2002b) provide detailed discu ssions on sample collection, sample handling, and suggested procedures. Before developing SOPs, consult the local laboratory for recommendations b ecause protocols that are relevant and applicable to the sampling desi gn might already be available.

Local laboratory support is critical because laboratory analysis for pathogenic indicators should be initiated within 24 hours of collection (the measurement holding time). Samples collected for compliance purposes for the measurement of pathogen indicators must be initiate d within 8 hours of collection (6 hours for transport to the laboratory and 2 hours to initiate processing in the laboratory). Local laboratory resources that are qualified to perform testing can be readily identified through local departments of health. Note, however, that many laboratories certified to perform anal ysis of pathogen indicators might not be certified for the preferred indicators for recreational waters— E. coli and enterococci. Part of the la boratory selection process should include reviewing and assessing labo ratory certifications. In some pr ograms laboratories might certify by pollutant or parameter or might certify to the method level.

Analytical methods
Membrane filter tests for enterococci : EPA Method 1600 (mEI media) EPA Method 1106.1 (mE media)

Membrane filter tests for E. coli : Modified EPA Method 1103.1 (Modified mTEC media) EPA Method 1103.1 (mTEC agar)Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-7 Most probable number tests for E. coli : LTB EC-MUG (Standard Methods 9221B.1/9221F) ONPG-MUG (Standard Methods 9223B , AOAC 991.15, Colilert, Colilert-18, and Autoanalysis Colilert) CPRG-MUG (Standard Methods 9223B, Colisure TM )

Membrane filter tests for E. coli : mEndo, LES-Endo, or mFC followed by transfer to NA-MUG media (Standard Methods 9222B/9222G or 9222D/9222G) MI agar m-ColiBlue24 broth



### Water temperature

Example
68 oF

Description This parameter is measured for use in taking temp erature-dependent measurements such as pH and conductivity. Water temperature can also be important in assessing the quality of potential habitat for aquatic species and for some less-desi rable pathogenic organisms.

Methods With relative ease, you can measure water temperatur e by using multiprobes or other handheld electronic measurement devices or by using si mple graduated thermometers. Th e accuracy of common, wide-scale thermometers and electronic instruments can be verified with simple ice-point (0 oC or 32 oF) and boiling point (100 oC or 212 oF) measurements. If the ice point and boiling point do not register correct temperatures, the results for the two measurements can be plotted on si mple graph paper to transl ate field measurements to corrected values. Electronic meters can be professionally calibrated if the manufactur er’s specifications do not include calibration procedures. Local and regional wa ter temperatures for recreational beaches are also generally broadcast on NOAA Weatherb and radios and local radio stat ions. Temperature ranges can be expected to be in the 60s, 70s, and 80s (in Fa hrenheit) during the recr eational swimming seasons.

Multiprobes are electronic instruments used to measur e an array of parameters (e.g., dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, conduc tivity, turbidity) in situ (in place) by special sensors. Multiprobes are usually portable, handheld devices that are used to collect instantaneous water quali ty measurements during focused environmental investigations ; however, they can also be deployed for extended periods for specialized studies to capture the diurnal (24-hour) quality cycle. Multiprobes are favored for routine environmental investigations because they can collect data for parameters like disso lved oxygen (DO) and pH, which have extremely limited holding times, and they don’t call for the transport and use of field chemistry test kits or necessitate the disposal of waste reagents or spent samples after measurement. (Field test kits often use acids or other toxics that require specialized disposal or pret reatment before disposal.)

For larger counties or regional coordinators, using multiprobes can be a cost-effective way to garner a large amount of information relatively quickly. Depending on the background and qualificat ions of the monitoring teams, the cost of training might be prohibitive becau se multiple persons would likely require training. Because multiprobes are reasonably portable and are subject to ca libration, the uncertainty a nd subjectivity associatedGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-8 with measurement are highly controlled. Some jurisdicti ons or regional survey pr ograms might already include the use of multiprobes.



### Odor

Example
Sulfur

Description An odor given off by a waterbody ca n indicate pollution, such as se wage, present at the beach.

Method As you walk around the beach, note whether any detectable odor is present and mark it down on the survey form.



### Turbidity

Example Clear, or 0 NTU [nephelometric turbidity units]

Description Turbidity is a measure of the cloudin ess of water and is also measured in situ . It is an aggreg ate property of the solution. Turbidity is not specific to th e types of particles in the water. They can be suspended or colloidal matter, and they can be inorganic, organic, or biologi cal. At high concentrations, turbidity is perceived as cloudiness or haze or an absen ce of clarity in the water.

Methods The most common instrument for measuring scattere d light in a water sample is a nephelometer. A nephelometer measures light scattered at a right angle ( 90°) to the light beam. Light scattered at other angles can also be measured, but the 90° angle defines a nephelometric measurement. The light source for nephelometric measurements can be one of two type s to meet EPA or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specifications . EPA specifies a tungsten lamp w ith a color temperature of 2,200–3,000 K (Kelvin). The unit of measurement for the EPA method is the nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU). The ISO specifies a light-emitting diode (LED) with a wavelength of 860 nanometers and a spectral bandwidth less than or equal to 60 nanometers. The unit of measurement for the ISO method is the formazin nephelometric unit (FNU). Also see the description of multiprobe s in this section under Water Temperature



### 5.3 Bather load

Example 200 people at the beach, 50 people in the water

Description The sanitary survey should include a discussion of the e ffects of bather load on recreational areas, particularly for recreational areas with poor water circulation. If there is poor water circulation, heavy bather loads canGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-9 cause significant elevat ion in bacterial counts for tota l and fecal coliform bacteria and enterococcus bacteria. High-use areas with poor water circulation might al so indicate a need for increased monitoring of microbiological indicator organisms and might require that attention be pa id to the potential for blue-green algae blooms.

Methods When performing the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey , count the number of people at the beach. If you perform the count in the morning when bather density is low or zero, note that on the form and try to obtain bather density data from the lifeguards or park gate. Lifeguard s often maintain records of bather density throughout the day. You can also use gate or visitor numbers for the beach if available.

The following are some examples of methods for estimating bather load:

• Count by hand the number of people at the beach. C ount the total number of people and estimate the number of people in the water as a percentage of the total number of people at the beach. If the beach is large, choose a representative area to use to count the number of pe ople and extrapolate the number to the entire beach using the size of the area as it compares to the total size of the beach.

• Take photos of the beach and count the number of peopl e in them. Make sure to note how much of the beach area each photo covers. If possi ble, try to cover the entire beach using photos, but make sure the photos do not overlap and that people are not co unted twice.

• Count people or take photos from a he licopter or plane flying over the beach.

• Count the number of cars at parking lots used for beach parking and use that number to estimate bather load.

• Count the number of visitors by using a laser counti ng device. Laser counting devi ces have been used at beaches in Encinitas, California, to count the numb er of bathers visiting a beach. The devices can be installed alongside stai rwells leading to the beach. To tally visito rs, the counters use a laser beam that is directed across the stairwells or narrow paths lead ing to a beach. Each pers on walking through the beam registers 0.5 on the counter to count a person arriving and departing as one visitor. The laser counter does have its limitations. All beach entrances need to have a counter, and entrances need to be clearly defined. Laser counters would not work at a beach wh ere the main beach entrance is several blocks long or where visitors can access the beach from several other areas or side street s. Also, people who walk past several times are counted as more than one person.

The following data should be record ed when counting beach attendance:

• Number of people at the beach

• Number of people in the wate r (e.g., swimming, diving, clamming)

• Number of people not recr eating in or on the water



### 5.4 Potential pollutant sources
The person performing the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey should identify visible s ources of pollutants up to 500 feet from the beach boundary and, if possible, quantify the sources.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-10 

### Sources of Pollutants

Example
River is brown and has a bad odor. River is to the east of the designated beach area, about 500 feet away from the beach.

Description Visible sources, including rivers, ponds, and outfalls, might carry contaminants that affect bathing beach water quality. Ground water, usually not visi ble, might also be a pollutant s ource. Investigating ground water as a pollutant source is not addresse d in this sanitary survey. The level of investigation of potential pollutant sources will vary depending on the resources available for the investigation and on priorities.

Documenting the river or stream discharge (or the volume of water passing a certain point per unit time) of the water body and the concentration of c ontaminant or indicator bacteria al lows managers to calculate and approximate “load” for that period. M easuring the discharge and the concentr ation of these sources can provide information about the magnitude of the potential pollutant loads carried by these sour ces to the bathing beach. It’s important to have information on both the concentration in a stream a nd the stream discharge because with that information a total load per day can be calculated.

Methods Identify visible sources that are affecting the beach up to 500 feet from the sampling station. If visible sources are suspected of affecting water qua lity, you might collect bacterial samp les from these sources and take discharge measurements, estimate discharge, or find discharge measurements from the USGS or another
agency.

Document the name of each visi ble source and the corresponding ve locity or flow rate on the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey form. In the Comments/Observati ons section, add additional notes such as whether the visible sources occur only in conjunction wi th specific weather conditions.

Discharge or Flow Measurement Stream or river “discharge” is sometimes called “flo w.” A discharge measurement is a combination of a velocity measurement and a cross-sectional area measur ement. The units in these two measurements are as follows: velocity = length per unit time , and cross-sectional area = width x de pth of the stream (units are length squared). When these two values are multiplied together, the resulting units are length cubed, or volume per unit time. Examples of this follow: cubic feet per seco nd, million gallons per day. For a complete reference on measuring stream discharge, refer to USGS Water Supply Paper 2175 (USGS 1982).

Velocity Measure velocity in a straight section of the stream or reach that has a stable bottom. Velocity can be measured using a velocity meter (sometimes called a flow meter). It is important to stand downstream and to the side of the velocity meter when taking measurem ents and to operate the meter properly.

Current velocity meter s are available as mechanical or electronic units. A current velocity meter consists of a sensor or current meter, the support system for the sensor, and a counter. The signal from the sensors or current meter is processed or read by the counter. Many factors must be considered when selecting the proper current measuring equipment. In general, you should know if you will be measuringGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-11 current from an overhead structure or while wading. It also helps to know the approximate speed of the water to be measured because there are specialty mete rs available for very slow currents, and those are most likely what is present in recreational waters . Training and experience ar e necessary to operate current velocity meters consistently and to select appropriate stream reaches for taking measurements.

Velocity estimates can be obtained using an orange or a fl oating ball and a stopwatch. The measurement is the time it takes the floating object to travel downstream a pre-measured (and pre-marked) distance (e.g., 10 meters). See the procedure given earl ier for longshore current speed measurement.

USGS stream flow data for the stream of interest might be available from the USGS’s National Water Information System (NWIS). The NWIS is a comprehe nsive and distributed appl ication that supports the acquisition, processing, and long-term storage of water data. Data for a large network of rivers and streams are available for stream leve ls, stream flow (discharge), reserv oir and lake levels, surface-water quality, and rainfall. The data are collected by auto matic recorders and manual field measurements at installations across the nation. For more information, see http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/sw

.
National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) is another resource that might be useful. The NHD is a comprehensive set of digital spat ial data that encodes informati on about naturally occurring and constructed bodies of water, path s through which water flows, and re lated entities. The data support many applications, such as making maps, modeling the flow of water, and maintaining data. The NHD is the culmination of cooperative efforts of EPA and the USGS. For more information, see http://nhd.usgs.gov/index.html

.

Volume is another way to document the amount of discharg e from a pollutant source. This is often how information from a wastewater treatment plant is reported and recorded on a Discharge Monitoring Report.

Estimated amount is used if you aren’t able to measure the flow or volume of a discharge to the beach. In this case, you can enter a gene ral amount of high (H), medium (M ), or low (L) to indicate the significance of the discharge. This information could be useful for ma king relative comparisons over a beach season, as long as the people making the measur ements have the same idea of what constitutes high, medium, and low.



### Floatables present

Example Yes, floatables are present in the water. Types found in clude trash such as househol d waste and medical items.

Description Floatable debris causes problems at beaches because it can easily come into contact with aquatic animals, people, boats, fishing nets, and other objects. Communities also lose money when beaches must be closed or cleaned up, and the fishing industry a nd recreational and commercial boaters spend thousands of dollars every year to repair vessels damaged by fl oatable debris (USEPA 2002a). Floatabl e debris also can be a source of bacterial contamination to bathing beaches.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-12 Types of floatables present in wate r include street litter (e.g., cigarette butts, filters, and filter elements); medical items (e.g, syringes); resin pellets; food packaging; beverage containers; sewa ge-related items (condoms, tampons, applicators); pieces of wood and siding from construction projects; fishing equipment (e.g., nets, lures, lines, bait boxes, ropes, and rods); household trash; plastic bags and sheeting; and beverage yokes (six-pack rings for beverage containers) (USEPA 2002a).

Methods Record the types and amount of floata ble debris. For further guidance on m easuring floatable debris, see EPA’s Assessing and Monitoring Floating Debris (USEPA 2002a), available at www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/debris/floatingdebris/pdf.html

.


### Amount and type of beach debris/litter on beach

Example Low (1%–20%) amount of beach has litter present. Types of litter found are street li tter, household waste, and
tar.

Description Beach debris or litter can cause problems similar to t hose caused by floatable debris (described above) because they can easily be washed into the bathing beach water and affect wildlife. In addi tion, the presence of certain materials, such as medical waste and sewage-related item s, on the beach can pose an immediate health hazard to beachgoers and can be a source of bacterial contamination to the beach.

Methods Record the types of beach debris or litter observed, along with the percentage of the beach length that has each type of debris or litter. Describe additional types of debris or litter not already provided on the form next to Other.



### Amount of algae in nearshore water/beach

Example Low (1%–20%) amount of beach has algae present. Type of algae found is free floating. Color is bright green.

Description Algae can be a nuisance at Great Lakes bathing beaches when they reach the beach. Decaying algae can produce a foul odor that can deter people from visiti ng affected bathing beaches. Algae also have been suspected of harboring E. coli , which can lead to beach closures (Pfeiffer 2005; see www.wnrmag.com/stories/2005/jun05/algae.htm ).

Methods Record the amount of algae found in the nearshore water and covering the beach. There are separate fields for algae in the nearshore water and for algae on the beach itself. The types of algae present, if known, should be recorded, as well as the color of the algae. Additional information can be gi ven, if needed, in the Comments and Observations section of the form.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-13 

### Presence of wildlife and domestic animals

Example 20 gulls seen on the beach and in the water.

Description The presence of wildlife and domestic animals at ba thing beaches affects wate r quality. Waste from these animals, whether entering the water directly from waterfowl droppings or indirectly from runoff carrying waste from dogs and other animals, can cause bacterial concentra tions to rise to the point where recreational standards are exceeded, resulting in beach clos ure. Data like the types and numbers of animals present at the bathing beach could be used to help identify major sources of bacterial contamination and potential best management practices (e.g., pet owner e ducation, better trash management to reduce available food sources at the beach) that could be used to reduce the amount of animal waste reaching the bathing beach.

Methods Determine the presence of animals at the bathing b each through visual observation. Use binoculars and a handheld counter to keep track of the number of animals present.

Record both the types and number of animals present at the beach. Note the presence of any types of animals not already listed on the form next to Other. Also note in the Comments a nd Observations section the number of each type of animal present in the water, on the beach, and in the air.



### List the number of each species of bird found dead on the beach

Example Common loons (2), long-tailed ducks (1)

Description Bird die-offs indicate problems in water quality

Methods As you walk the beach to conduct the sanitary survey, look for any dead birds on the s hore or in the water. If you can’t identify the species of bird, write a description of the bird and take a photo if possible.



### List the number of de ad fish on the beach

Example
Found a total of 4 dead fish on the be ach––2 at the east end at the same lo cation, 1 in the middle, and 1 on the west end.

Description Fish die-offs indicate problems in water quality.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 5-14 Methods As you walk the beach to conduct the sanitary survey, look fo r any dead fish on the shore or in the water. If you can’t identify the species of fish, write a descri ption of the fish and take a photo if possible.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-1 

## 6. Data Elements for the Annual Sanitary Survey

This section includes descriptions of the types of data you should consid er collecting if you are conducting an Annual Sanitary Survey . Make sure that you document all sources of information, including dates that data were collected or recorded. In addition, if you used the Internet to obtain inform ation (such as maps), note the most recent date for the Web page.



### 6.1 Basic information

In the first section of the Annual Sanitary Survey form, list the basic information about your beach, such as the name, ID, and location. The Beach IDs you use should include the one you submit to EPA for the PRAWN database. If you have a separate ID for other purposes, you may list that as well.



### 6.2 Description of land use in the watershed

Current land use in watershed and overall development

As described in EPA’s 2002 National Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants , you can use beach characterization data, including surrounding la nd uses, to evaluate potential risk and rank beaches. Pollutant loadings into nearby bathing beaches and other surface waters generally increase as a watershed becomes more developed and more impervious surfaces are created. Using environmentally sound land use planning techniques and implementing controls can help reduce the impacts of development on bathing beaches.

Land use maps or aerial photos of the watershed can usually be obtained through a city, county, or state planning department. In addition, some land use and land cover (LULC) data are available from the USGS for the conterminous United States and Hawa ii, although coverage is not complete for all areas. The Web site for LULC information is http://edc.usgs.gov/produc ts/landcover/lulc.html . Also, Web sites like www.googleearth.com can be helpful in providing ma ps. When using these types of sources, make sure to note the most recent date on which updates were made to the Web page and when updates are expected.

You can use the information provided by these sources to estimate the percentage of various land uses, including residential, industrial, commercial, and agricultural, in the watershed. You can also use it to visually confirm locations of potential polluta nt sources like wastewater treatment plants and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). In addition, you can use this information to determine the overall per centages of developed and undeveloped area in the watershed.

In addition, you should consider conduc ting site visits throughout the wate rshed to verify or update land use data and maps and to collect visual data in unknown areas or areas suspected of bei ng sources of contamination.



### Uses You can use beach use information to identify potential sources of pollutants. For example, if small oil or gasoline spills are often noted, you can investigate nearby motorized boats as a potential source of bacterial contamination. You can determine beach uses through direct observations of activities that occur at the beach and services offered at the beach (e.g., boat rentals). The uses included on the Annual Sanitary Survey form are boating, fishing, surfing, windsur fing, diving, and other. Select the uses th at occur at your beach, and describeGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-2 them further, if necessary, in the Comments section on the form. Describe any uses not listed on the form in the space next to the Other category. In addition, if the Routine On-site Beach Sanitary Survey was conducted, you can summarize the results from Part III, Bather Load, co llected over the course of the season; Part III asks for information on beach use.



### Mapping You can use maps to help identify potential impact s on the beach within the watershed or along adjacent shoreline. They can help you determine the proximity of pollutant sources to the beach. Even simple maps like those obtained from places such as GoogleEarth can be useful. Attach copies of any maps you have to the Annual Sanitary Survey , or list the locations of the files if hard copies are not available.

You can obtain topographic maps from USGS directly or through a retailer. Information on ordering these maps is provided on USGS’s Web site at http://topomaps.usgs.gov/ordering_maps.html . Topographic maps provide an indication of geographic boundaries and contours that influence stormwater flow and, ultimately, pollutant loads to recreational waters. You can use topographic ma ps to delineate surface wa tershed boundaries, if this has not been done already.

Detailed maps of survey areas are va luable to understanding the annual su rveys and to ensuring the consistency and continuity of the annual survey program. Maps he lp you to document specific conditions about waterfront and adjacent properties being developed, which can includ e pollutant sources or pollutant management controls. Graphic representations of key featur es help future surveyors verify a nd document the effects of nearshore development activities and pollutant control or sanitation enhancemen ts from one year to the next.

Local governments maintain maps of their jurisdictions in their planning and zoni ng offices. You should note on such maps the key features identified in the surve y, including primary (central) GPS locations for survey reaches or sub-reaches (permanent structural markers such as buildings [addresses], light poles, or utility poles might serve as references to the location of GPS meas urements because some GPS measurement devices have greater resolution than others); locations of water sa mpling and physical measurement stations; the location and direction of any digital photos (to serve as an index); the locations of significant pote ntial sources (e.g., CSO/SSO or other discharge conveyan ces or apparent stormw ater runoff, marinas, docks with recreational watercraft); surrounding development and land uses, including any active construction; and permanent or temporary sanitary facilities for swimmers and beach patr ons. A map of sufficiently small scale should provide an opportunity to make notations regarding most features or perspectives for most of the detailed observations on the Annual Sanitary Survey form.

The survey includes a list of possible items to include on the map, such as pollutant s ources, marinas, sanitary facilities, and bounding structures. Check to see if the things on the list that are applicable to your beach are on the map, and in the Other category add any a dditional things that are not on the list.



### Erosion/accretion measurements High water levels, storms, wind, ground water seepage, surf ace water runoff, ice, and frost are important factors that cause beach erosion. In addition, jetties and seawa lls intended to protect against storm waves can actually accelerate beach erosion and reduce the capacity of beach es to absorb storm ener gy (NOAA 2003). Erosion can result in public losses to recreati onal facilities, roads, public works, and homes located along the shore (Surfrider 2007).Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-3 To determine whether a beach is eroding or accreting over time, and whether you need to implement an erosion control plan, you can take measurements from a fixed objec t behind the beach, such as a building or parking lot, to the high watermark, and compare changes over time. The high watermark is the highest point that waves reach on the day the measurement is taken. It can usually be identified as the line on the beach between where it is wet and where it is dry or by a line of debris (e.g., seaweed, she lls). If there is more th an one line of debris on the beach, use the line closest to the waterbody because ot her debris lines farther from the beach might be the result of previous storms (UNESCO 2005).

Two people are needed to perform this measurement. Fo r beaches at least one mile long, choose at least three points along the beach for the erosion/accretion measurem ents. You can add addition al points as needed. For instance, you can take measurements directly in front of and adjacent to man-made bounding structures to study their effects (UNESCO 2005).

At the first point (point A), select th e fixed object and record a description of it on the sanitary survey form. In addition, take pictures of both the high watermark location and a corresponding fixed object, and record a description of these photos on the san itary survey form. One person should stand at the high watermark and lay the tape measure on the ground. The other should stretch th e tape measure to the fixed object and pull the tape measure taut. One of the persons should record on the san itary survey form the distance in feet or meters. Then proceed to the next point, repeating the measurement and recording corresponding information on the sanitary survey form. Finally, the two people should measure the distances between sampling points (UNESCO 2005) and record them on the sanitary survey form.

The University of Minnesota Extension Service’s Web site provides examples of some best management practices that can be used to reduce erosion at beaches: www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/components/DD6946g.html

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### Bounding structures

Alterations of the coastal environment can occur from the installa tion of man-made b ounding structures like jetties, groins, and seawalls. Alterations affect co astal dynamics and have far-reaching effects on coastal ecosystems, hydrodynamic and tidal regimes, and sediment transport rates. Usually, bounding structures are placed in environments to counteract er osion in sediment-deficient areas or to deter accretion in dynamic areas such as inlets. Adjacent downdrift areas typically experience increased erosi on after these structures have been installed (NPS 2006).

Groins are perpendicular structures used to maintain updrif t beaches or to restrict longshore sediment transport. Jetties, another type of perpendicular hard structure, ar e normally placed adjacent to tidal inlets to control inlet migration and to minimize sediment deposition within the inlet. Seawalls, bulkheads, and revetments are shoreparallel structures designed to protect the beach in front of a property or properties. Structures like breakwaters, headlands, sills, and reefs are designed to alter the eff ects of waves and stop or alter natural coastal changes (NPS 2006). For more information on these structures, see www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/coastal/human_impact.cfm

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Take photos of bounding structures. Reco rd corresponding descriptions of the pictures on the sanitary survey form in the Photos section.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-4 

### Beach materials/sediments Beaches can be characterized by the types of materials or sediments present. Sediment type can correlate to bacteria densities at some beaches. In addition, changes in the types of materials or sediments present over time (e.g., from fine-grain to coarse sand) can indicate erosion problems. If beach nourishment projects are undertaken, the grain size of the replacement sand should match as closely as possible the existing sand grain sizes to avoid problems like beach narrowing.

In addition, some researches have found that bacteria can thrive in beach sand, po ssibly contributing to the bacteria in the beach water. For example, Lake Hur on beach sand provides the nutrients, temperatures, and other conditions needed to support growth of E. coli (Alm et al. 2006). Data show that wet freshwater beach sand is a reservoir of fecal indicator bacteria and that activity in this z one can bring the bacteria to the sand surface or into the water (Alm et al. 2003)

Simple, subjective observations (e.g., “sandy, very”) can be used to describe the materials or sediments present at a beach. This is adequate for most beaches.

If you have the time and resources, however, collecting se diment samples and sending them to a lab for analysis will provide better data. If you choose to do this, the follo wing is a simple procedure for collecting samples (recommended by Richard Whitman of the USGS, 2006).

1. Choose up to three plots that are 1 square meter in dimension. Plots should be approximately 1 meter beachward (i.e., away from the water) from the waterl ine. If the sediments at your beach are fairly uniform, one plot is likely enough. 2. Describe the locations of the plots and note them on a diagram or photo so that th ey can be revisited in the future. 3. Within each plot, collect five equally sized sediment samples—one from each corner of the square plot and one from the center of the square. Composite the samples into one pre-labeled bottle or bag. 4. Send the samples to a lab to analyze the sediment size. The lab should determine the mean grain size diameter, as well as the uniformity coefficient.



### Photos Photos are a good way to document beach and watershed conditions. Take some general photos showing the overall beach condition and the locations of fixed objects. These photos can be used as a reference points to determine whether changes have been made from year to year. In addition, take photos of beach use, bounding structures, sediments, habitat, sampling locations, pollu tant sources, evidence of pollutants (such as pluming from creeks and streams, runoff, and my sterious pipes, evident in aerial p hotos), sanitary facilities, and other facilities. If you are using a digital camera, write down the photo number, a description, the date and time, and the file name (once the file is uploaded to a comput er) for each photo taken. Att ach relevant photos to the survey form.



### Habitat Changes in the types of habitats pr esent at a beach over time can indicat e erosion problems. For example, if dunes are starting to disappear, beach re storation efforts might be needed to slow the erosion process. Special measures might be needed to maintain critical habitat for a threatened species at a beach, such as the piping plover ( Charadrius melodus ).Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-5 Record on the sanitary survey form the types of hab itat present at a beach (e.g., dunes, wetlands, river/stream, forest, park, urban area, or pr otected habitat or reserve).



### 6.3 Weather conditions
One or more weather parameters might co rrelate with bacteria densities in the water. For this pa rt of the survey, you should closely examine the data you have collected ove r the previous season(s), if applicable, and look for trends and possible correlations with the bacteria sample results. For example, once you display the data graphically, you might notice that bacter ia counts are usually high when the water temperature is at its highest. Or perhaps bacteria sample results at certain sample poi nts at one beach are higher than at other sample points, possibly because a current typically moves from west to east along the shore.

In addition, if sky conditions (such as sunny or cloudy) were observed usi ng the Routine Sanitary Survey, the survey results should be examined to determine the t ypical sky condition for the be ach. Sky conditions from the routine survey can also be examined along with the bacteria sampling results to determine whether there is any correlation between the sky conditi ons and the sampling results.

The results of the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey can be used to calculate the average, typical, or maximum measurements of air temperature, wa ter temperature, and wind speed and direction during beach season. If those data are not available, the National Weather Service Web site or other Web sites might be a source of data. The following is a list of Internet sources that you can use to access hist orical weather data.

NOAA http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/station_retrieve.sh tml?type=Great%20Lakes% 20Water%20Level%20Data&so rt=A.STATION_ID&state=&id1 This Web site allows you to purchase data from 1996 to the present collected by major airport weather stations. The data include daily temperature ex tremes, precipitation, and winds. Some current data are available free of charge, but additional data come in the form of monthly or annual records and cost $4 per record.

NOAA–NCDC www7.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/getcoopstates.html This Web site contains records for weather stations in the United States ranging fr om the year 1800 to two or three months ago. The database is searchable by state a nd city. It gives results as .pdf files showing scanned monthly logs with a daily account of temperature extrem es (participating locations) and precipitation, snow, and snow depth. Data are available for the thousands of sites that are a part of the cooperative observing network in the United States. This information is free, but if you need certified copies, they cost about $1 to $4 per monthly data sheet ordered.

NOAA–Great Lakes Environmen tal Research Laboratory www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/precip/precip.html This site compiles historical rainfall precipitation data from a ll the weather stations in the states surrounding the Great Lakes in the form of one zippe d file for each state. The stations are subfiles that can be opened in Microsoft Excel.

NOAA-National Weather Service www.nws.noaa.gov/Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-6 The National Weather Service site pr ovides locations of weather stati ons and weather radio information. Archived data for the previous year are available.



### 6.4 Physical beach conditions

Beach length or dimensions Comparing beach dimensions over several years can pr ovide information on how local development might be affecting the beach. For instance, uncontrolled developmen t near the beach can preven t natural dune restoration, which in turn can decrease the width of the beach. Beach length measurements can be used to help identify sampling locations and other features. Beach dimensions can also be useful in calculating how much sand will be needed for a beach nourishment project. In additi on, beaches that are receiving funds from an EPA’s BEACH Act Grant must provide beach length data to EPA.

Two people are needed to measure the length of the section of beach to which the sanitary survey applies. Note the fixed objects or beach formations that will be used as boundaries fo r the length of beach (e.g., lifeguard chair to lifeguard chair, edge of building to inlet) on the sanitary survey form . Before using objects like lifeguard chairs, make sure they are actually fixed objects and are not moved fr om year to year. In addition, take pictures of the boundaries and record descriptions of these photos on the sa nitary survey form. To measure the beach, one person should stand at one end of the beach and lay a tape measure on the ground. The second person should stretch the tape measure to the other end of th e beach or as far as it wi ll allow. If the beach is longer than the length of the tape measure, take incr emental beach length measurements in a field notebook. Add the incremental measurements, and reco rd them on the sanitary survey form.

Enter on the sanitary survey form the three previously made beach width measurements (distance from fixed object to high watermark) for the erosion/accretion measurements for width Z1, width Z2, and width Z3. Average the three measurements, and enter the valu e on the form for width (average) (UNESCO 2005).

Alternatively, you can take GPS readings to determine beach length or dimensions, or you can estimate the distances by pacing the b each. Make sure you document on the survey form the method you use to calculate beach length or dimensions.



### Local water level variation

Variations in Great Lakes water levels affect beach wi dths; if low water levels are experienced, beach widths expand. During 1998 and 1999, low precipitation and warm water temperatures (leading to increased evaporation) contributed to lower-th an-normal lake levels. Several marina s needed to extend their docks during this period to reduce boater maintenan ce problems experienced in shallow wa ters. Algae blooms were also more common during this time because of th e high water temperatures (MDEQ 2006).

Comparisons of daily Great Lake water levels with prio r levels measured at refere nce gauges on each lake are on the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory’s Web site at www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/now /wlevels/levels.html . Real-time water level data for additional gauges are on the Great Lakes Information Network at www.great-lakes.net/env t/water/levels/hydro.html

.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-7 

### Longshore or nearshore currents Review data from the prior beach season(s) and determ ine the significance of longshore or nearshore currents. Examine the current data alongside the bacteria sample re sults at each sample point to determine whether there might be a correlation between the curre nts and bacteria concentrations at certain sample points. For more information on measuring currents or data sources, see the description of currents in Section 5.1 of this document.



### Slope at the swim area Beaches exposed to high-energy waves tend to have a st eeper slope than those exposed to low-energy waves. Steep, man-made, structure-induced sl opes can be vulnerable to erosion wh en the structure is removed during beach nourishment operations if this fact is not cons idered in design (NOAA 2003).

Measure the slope at one or more of the locations selected for erosion/ accretion measurements. The equipment needed for slope measurements includes two poles of equal length, tied together with several meters of string, and a tape measure. Alternatively, you can use surveying equipment, such as a laser level, if available, to measure slope.

Choose a fixed object behind the beach, such as a buildi ng or tree. Use the same fixed starting point when taking future slope measurements so that any changes in slope over time can be measured. Take photos of the fixed starting point, and record co rresponding information on the sanitary survey form (UNESCO 2005).

Place a pole at the fixed starting poin t, and place a second pole down-gradient of the first pole. Pull the string taut. Move the string up or down on the pol es until it is level (use a line le vel to determine this). Measure the distance between the two poles (Z), and the distance betw een the string and the top of each pole (X and Y), and record the data in a field notebook. Fo r wide beach areas, move the first po le up to the second pole and repeat the process at each break of slope. Th e end of the profile should be the water’s edge (Paraska 1999). For each set of measurements, calculate the difference between X and Y. That is the elevation or height. Divide this number by the distance between the two polls, and that is the slope. This pr ocess is illustrated in Figure 1. You can calculate percent slope fo r sections of the beach for a beach profile , or you can calculate an overall percent slope using the start and end point measurements.

Figure 1. Calculating a beach’s slope.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-8 

### Date and description of the last beach rehabilitation Beach rehabilitation can help restore major habitats and reduce pollutant sources. Major rehabilitation could include projects such as pl anting beach grass and erecting fences to protect dune ecosystems, removing litter, dredging, adding sand, and conducting beach nourishment. You should list in part 11, Potential Pollutant Sources, other types of rehabilitation, su ch as constructing bathroom facilities.



### 6.5 Bather load
It is important for the beach manager to know the numb er or approximate number of people using the beach. You can collect the bather load numbe rs using several different approaches to determine annual, seasonal, and daily cycles. Bather load should best be measured during times of the day wh en people are most likely to be at the beach. Lifeguards in many counties routinely collect daily counts during swimmi ng season, and therefore they might have data that are of use in the survey. C ounty health departments or beach program managers might also have historical beach a ttendance data that could be of use in the annual or rou tine surveys. For details on how to measure bather load, see Section 5.3.

Bather load numbers should be reviewed alongside bacteria sample re sults to determine whether there is any type of correlation between beach use and bacteria con centrations. Evaluate each sample point separately because one sample point might be more affected by bather load than the others. Describe any trends detected or any particular days when there might have been a correlation between these data sets.



### 6.6 Beach cleaning

Cle 

### anup activitie s Beaches are typically cleaned using mechanical cleaners, volunteers (e.g., Adopt-a-Beach programs, county- or city-sponsored beach cleanup days), or both. Mechanical beach cleaners groom the sand by mechanically raking and sifting it, and they can remove bo th large and small pieces of debris. This process might or might not be followed by leveling of the sand. Beach grooming without leveling has been shown to significantly reduce the amount of bacterial contamination during dry-weather ev ents (Northeast–Midwest Institute 2003). Mechanical beach cleaning can be performed daily dur ing the early morning or late evening.

Volunteers can perform manual beach cleaning in year-round Adopt-a-Beach programs, which require participants to clean a designated area of beach at l east five times a year and in clude litter monitoring, cleanup, and simple monitoring activities (A lliance for the Great Lakes 2004). Muni cipalities or counties might also sponsor beach cleanup events one or more times a year.

In this part of the survey, note the frequency of any b each cleaning activities and give a short description of any activities performed at the beach. Also list any particular type of equipment that was used for beach cleaning, if known.



### Amount and types of beac h debris/litter on the beach

Review the results of the routine su rvey, or other documentation of this type of activity, and estimate how frequently debris or litter is found on the beach and whet her it is causing a problem. Note which types of debris or litter are found, including ta r, oil or grease, trash, pl astic, or medical waste.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-9 

### 6.7 Information on sampling location

Sampling location Describe the sampling locations, includi ng details about each sample point. Li st the time of day that samples are usually taken. EPA recommends that water quality sample s be taken in the middle of a typical bathing area. Samples can be taken at a point corre sponding to each lifeguard chair, or ev ery 500 meters. If a beach is more than 5 miles long, samples should be taken at the most populated/used areas of the beach and spread out along the length of the beach (USEPA 2002b).

You can use measurements and landmarks to identify speci fic locations and to ensure future consistency in sample collection. A more precise way to identify your sampling location is to take a GPS reading and record the coordinates.

Collect samples in the morning if possible to ensure th at the holding times are met and that the laboratory has the maximum time to process the samples. Note on the sampling form the name of the laboratory and distance from the sampling sites to the lab to dete rmine the best time for collecting samples.



### Sampling plan, equipment maintena nce and calibration procedures Before the beach season, beach managers and their staff should review the sampling plan and equipment maintenance and calibration procedures (if applicable). Keep these documents on-hand so that before each sampling event, field staff can review them as neede d. Review these documents dur ing the annual sanitary survey, and if there are any changes in factors such as beach use, number of swimmers, new sources, or equipment used, make any adjustments in the samp le plan or equipment maintenance and calibration procedures.



### Hydrometric network A hydrometric network is the network of monitoring stations that collect data such as flow and rainfall. Check to see if flowmeters or rain ga uges are in place in the watershed, a nd note their locations and owners. NOAA might be able to provide rainfall da ta (for Web site information, see S ection 6.3). However, you might want to operate your own rain gauge or weather station so that it is in the immedi ate vicinity of your beach. You could also coordinate with a local universit y that might be interested in these data or might have a rain gauge or weather station of its own.

Flow data might also be avai lable from the USGS NWIS ( http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/sw ) (USGS 2007a). The NWIS is a comprehensive and distributed applica tion that supports the acquisi tion, processing, and longterm storage of water data. Data are available for stream levels, stream flow (discharge), reservoir and lake levels, surface-water quality, and ra infall. The data are collected by au tomatic recorders and manual field measurements at instal lations across the nation.

Another resource that might be useful is the NHD, at http://nhd.usgs.gov/index.html (USGS 2007b). The NHD is a comprehensive set of digital spatial data that enc odes information about naturally occurring and constructed bodies of water, paths through which water flows, and re lated entities. The data support many applications, such as making maps, modeling the flow of water, and ma intaining data. The NHD is the culmination of the cooperative efforts of EPA and USGS.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-10 

### 6.8 Water quality sampling

Laboratory information Use this section to provide the name of the laborator y that analyzes the beach water samples. List the approximate distance from the beach to the laboratory.



### Sampling and analysis plan Note on the survey whether a sampling plan or a samp ling and analysis plan exis ts. Review the plan to determine whether it adequately descri bes sampling and analysis procedures for this beach. Before the start of the beach season, management and all staff that will part icipate in beach monitoring or data analysis should review the sampling plans. Managers should make sure that the staff members understand the sampling plan and all the procedures they might help with. If any ne w equipment will be used, update the sampling plan with information on the new equipment, and train staff appropriately.



### Biological survey results Biological surveys are often performed by county or st ate natural resource departments as part of a comprehensive approach to water resource protection and management. They are sometimes performed for purposes related to the 305(b) assessments and th e Clean Lakes, Nonpoint Source, TMDL, and NPDES programs, as well as other water quality programs. Ou r increased understanding of how lake systems function and respond to human activity has led to the recogniti on that environmental protection requires a holistic approach to lake management and prot ection. It has been necessary to expa nd our thinking with respect to lake monitoring approaches, incorporating bi ological assessments into traditiona l chemical and physical evaluations (USEPA 1998). For guidance on how to conduct a biologica l survey and to help you determine whether such a survey is appropriate for your beach, see EPA’s Lake and Reservoir Bioassessment and Biocriteria: Technical Guidance Document (available at www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/tech/lakes.html ).

Since the 1800s, more than 160 nonindigenous aquatic species have invaded the Great Lakes ecosystem, causing severe economic and ecological impacts. Thes e species include zebra mussel, round goby, sea lamprey, Eurasian ruffe, purple loosestrife, Eurasian watermilfoil, and spiny and fishhook waterfleas. The Great Lakes Commission has made preventing the in troduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species a priority (GLC 2004).

Pictures and descriptions of exotic invasive species commonly found in the Great Lakes region are provided on the Minnesota Sea Grant Web site at www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/fieldguide.html and www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/index.html

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### Duration and identification of species of algae blooms Algae can be a nuisance at Great Lakes bathing beaches. Cladophora species have been found in the nearshore water and on beaches themselves. Cladophora species have been reported to have a foul odor that can deter people from visiting affected bathing beaches. Al gae also have been suspected of harboring E. coli , which can lead to beach closures (Pfeiffer 2005; see www.wnrmag.com/stories/2005/jun05/algae.htm ).

• Field personnel can reference the following NOAA Web site, an electr onic field guide to algae found in the Great Lakes: www.glerl.noaa.gov/seagran t/GLWL/Algae/Algae1.html

.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-11 • In addition, you can use taxonomic guides like Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (Aquatic Ecology) (Wehr and Sheath 2003) to identify algae observed in the nearshore water and on the beach.



### Current and/or histori cal amounts of algae

• Record on the Annual Sanitary Survey form the amount of algae found in the nearshore water. Select the type of algae present, if known, a nd/or note the color(s) of algae seen.

• Record the amount of algae found covering the beach. This should be measured as the percentage of the length of the beach that has al gae present. In the Comments and Observations section of the form, record the type of al gae present, if known.

• Review the results of the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey for previous years and summarize them on the Annual Sanitary Survey to determine whether ther e are any long-term issues and whether there is a correlation between the presence of al gae and bacterial sample results.

In addition, list any other aquatic or ganisms that were found at your be ach, including infectious snails.



### Historical presence of wildlife and domestic animals You can determine the presence of animals at the bathing beach by visual obs ervation. This should be performed routinely (during the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey ). Use binoculars and a handheld counter to keep track of the number of animals present. Record on the Annual Sanitary Survey form both the types and number of animals present at the beac h. Note next to Other the presence at the beach of any types of animals not already listed on the form. Also note in the Comments a nd Observations section the number of each type of animal present in the water, on the beach, and in the air. Summarize the results from the Routine On-site Sanitary Survey conducted during prior seasons on the annual sani tary survey. Look to see how often animals were found at the beach and whether their presence can be correlated with bacteria sampling results. Also include a discussion of whether any f ecal droppings were actually seen or are a common occurrence. If routine surveys were not performed and there are no historical data, note the current presen ce of any wildlife and domestic animals.



### Bacterial samples collected Beach managers should compile bact eria indicator concentrations ( E. coli or enterococcus or both (USEPA 1986)) and calculate trends, geometric mean, annual/s easonal averages, minimum co ncentration, and maximum concentrations to assist in measuring the beach water quality. Bacteria concentratio ns should be compared to previous years’ data to determine wh ether any significant cha nges have occurred or whether any trends can be detected. Bacteria data should be exam ined alongside all other da ta collected, including w eather, rainfall, algae, debris, wildlife, flow, and water quality. Consider doing a statistical analysis on data correlation. Examples of bacteria monitoring methods and calcu lations are include d in Appendix F.



### Water quality Water quality data (including water te mperature, pH, rainfall, turbidity, and conductivity) should be compared to previous years’ data. You should al so examine data alongside bacteria re sults to determine whether there are any correlations between bacteria concentrations and wa ter quality results. The following paragraphs give more details on specific wate r quality parameters.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-12 Water temperature

• You can measure water temperature with re lative ease using one of the following: – A multiprobe – Other handheld electronic measurement device – Graduated thermometer

The accuracy of common, wide-scale thermometers and electronic instruments can be verified with simple ice point (0 degrees Celsius [ ° C] or 32 degrees Fahrenheit [ ° F]) and boiling point (100 ° C or
212 ° F) measurements. If the ice point and boiling poi nt do not register corre ct temperatures, you can plot results for the two measurements on simple graph paper to translate field measurements to corrected values. Electronic meters can be pr ofessionally calibrated if the manufacturer’s specifications do not include calib ration procedures (USGS 2006). See the description for multiprobe in the previous section under the me thods used for water temperature.

• Local and regional water temperat ures for recreational beaches ar e also generally broadcast on NOAA Weatherband radios and local radio stations. Temperature ranges can be expected to be in the 60s, 70s, and 80s (in degrees Fahrenheit) dur ing the recreational swimming seasons.

pH

• You can conduct measurement of pH using one of the following:

– Simple pH strips

– Field test kits

– Handheld electronic meters (see the description fo r multiprobe in the previous section under the methods listed for water temperature)

• Common pH strips of a range expected for recr eational waters are gene rally accurate enough for routine surveys. Their cost is usually less than $0.15 per strip.

Rainfall

• You can measure rainfall using a rain gauge near the sampling station(s). Y ou can purchase relatively inexpensive rain gauges ($50.00 to $150.00) that can also provide hist orical rainfall records through vendors like Ben Meadows Company ( www.benmeadows.com ) and Weather Connection ( www.weatherconnection.com ).

• Alternatively, you can obtain rainfall measurements from a local airport. The di stance from the airport to the sampling station should be noted, as well as whether they are in the same watershed. Record on the Annual Sanitary Survey form the amount of rainfall in inches or centimeters, as well as the time from the previous rainfall event. The Web site s listed under Weather Conditions could also be a source of rainfall data.

Turbidity

• You can use simple, subjective observa tions (e.g. , “slightly turbid, clear”) to describe the turbidity of nearshore waters.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-13 • Alternatively, you can use test kits (using a visual or titrimetric test method), su ch as the LaMotte test kit for turbidity, for interpreting tu rbidity results. The results from using this method are reported in Jackson turbidity units (JTU). Visual methods use reagents to react with a substa nce in the sample, causing a change in color. The c oncentration of the substance can be determined using the included color comparators or color sheets. Titrimetric methods use a titrant solu tion that is added to the sample in precise quantities until a color change indica tes a completed reaction. The amount of titrant added is used to determine concentration.

• There are two common methods for instruments to measure turbidity.

– Instruments can measure the attenuation of a light beam passing through a sample. In the attenuation method, the intensity of a light beam passing through turb id sample is compared with the intensity passing through a turb idity-free sample at 180° from th e light source. This method is good for highly turbid samples.

– Instruments can measure the scattered light from a light beam passing through a sample. The most common instrument for measuring scattered light in a water sample is a nephelometer, which measures light scattered at a right angle (90°) to the light beam. Li ght scattered at other angles can also be measured, but the 90° angle defines a nephelometric measurement. The light source for nephelometric measurements can be one of two types to meet EPA or ISO specifications. EPA specifies a tungsten lamp with a color temper ature of 2,200–3,000 K. The unit of measurement for the EPA method is the nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU). The ISO specifies a light-emitting diode (LED) with a wavelength of 860 nanometers a nd a spectral bandwidth less than or equal to 60 nanometers. The unit of measurement for the ISO method is the formazin nephelometric unit, or FNU (APHA 1998).

• Portable turbidimeters are available for use in the field. Bathing beach water is first collected in the vial provided in the turbidimeter kit and then placed in the turbid imeter to obtain measurements. The results, provided in NTUs, are based on comparis ons to known turbidity standards (also provided in the kit) through instrument calibration. Also refe r to the information on multiprobes given in the previous section under the met hods for water temperature.

Conductivity A conductivity meter is commonly included in several types of multiprobes. Conductivity is measured electronically primarily, using a de vice called the Wheatstone bridge, wh ich measures the conductance across two electrodes. Also refer to the information on multiprobes given in the previous section under the methods for water temperature.

Conductivity is highly correlated with, the concentration of dissolved solids within th e water column. It is one way to measure the overall health of a lake because aquatic organi sms require a relatively constant concentration of the major dissolved i ons in the water. Levels too high or too low may limit survival, growth, or reproduction.

By measuring conductivity (how easily electric current passes through the s eawater), scientis ts can obtain a measurement of that water sample's salinity because el ectric current passes much more easily through water with a higher salt content. If you know the conductivity of the water, you can calculate how much salt is present in the water (Murty et al.).Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-14 The conductivity of lake water is influenced by a number of factors, explained in more detail in A Citizen's Guide to Understanding and Monitoring Lakes and Streams (Michaud 1991).



### 6.9 Modeling

Predictive models are used to estimate bacterial indi cator levels. They are based on single or multiple correlations between hydrologic meteor ology or other data with bacterial indicator counts. In most cases, several years of data have been us ed to develop a good model. These corre lations are useful information in a sanitary survey because they might provide information on sources of contamination on or near the beach that could be remediated. The usefulness of models to pred ict indicator bacteria counts is mostly in the models’ timeliness: Bacteria samples currently take at least 18 hours to analyze, and models can predict bacteria counts—or the likelihood of an exceedance of the wa ter quality standard—more quickly so that timely decisions can be made. Predictive models do not repla ce the need for sampling, however. Successfully managed beach programs that use models continually verify th eir models. And models might change as remediation efforts take place or as conditions change.

If your beach already has had a model developed for it, you should collect information on the type of model, how it was developed, how it is applied to the beach, the fr equency of use, and results from its application. If the model used is a rainfall advisory, investigate and document how this advisory was developed and how the rainfall threshold level was determine d. In addition, if you are not using mode ls but have plans to use them in the future, describe your plans in the Comments/Observations section.

Examples of predictive models being used or developed are st atistical tools like Swimming Advisory Forecast Estimate (SAFE) ( www.glsc.usgs.gov/projectSAFE.php ) and SwimCast ( www.earth911.org/waterquality ) for Lake Michigan and Nowcast models ( www.ohionowcast.info/index.asp ) for Lake Erie.

Compared to current models, SAFE models provide a far bett er real-time estimate of E. coli counts, and they can be applied to five beaches simultaneously.

Nowcast models can provide quick, reliable indicators of re creational water quality. Real-time forecasting using mathematical models can help resolve the delayed notif ication problems inherent wi th the present approach. Mathematical models use easily measured environmental and water-quality variables ( explanatory variables)

, such as wave height and rainfall, to estimate the E. coli concentrations or the probability of exceeding 235 col/100 mL of E. coli . This method provides a nowcast of recreational water qual ity, which is similar to a weather forecast except that it estimates cu rrent conditions instead of future ones.



### 6.10 Advisories/Closings
Beach advisory and closing data from the previous s eason provide useful information about water quality and potential sources of contamination. Beach managers should ma intain records of this information in a central file to facilitate compiling advisory and closing data from previous beach seasons and comparing those data with data from the current beach season.

By finding out the number of days the beach was under advisory or closed during a season, a beach manager can determine whether overall water quality at a bathi ng beach is improving or declining. In addition, a beach manager can determine whether the date s the beach was under advisory or clos ed during a season correlate withGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-15 other beach conditions, such as rain events, elevated wa ter temperatures, pollutant discharges, high winds, or high wildlife counts. The beach manager should be able to obtain notes on the beach conditions during sample collection on corresponding Routine On-site Sanitary Survey forms. The table on the Annual Sanitary Survey form can be expanded as needed to include all advisories and closings.



### 6.11 Potential pollutant sources
The most important objectives of the beach sanitary su rvey are to identify sources that affect the beach, determine their exact location, and measure/calculat e the source contribution. The beach manager should compile potential pollutant information from previously conducted Routine On-site Sanitary Surveys . The beach manager should also use mapping tools; review the t opographic map and the detailed map developed for the Annual Sanitary Survey to determine what nearby sources (e.g., landfills, marinas, bathhouses) might be affecting bathing beach water quality; and add this in formation, along with corresponding latitude and longitude data, to this part of the Annual Sanitary Survey form. The beach manager, with th e assistance of a sanitarian or public health official, should then estimate the per cent annual contribution and p eak contribution amounts for each potential pollutant source. This information will be very useful for prioritizi ng the potential sources for further investigation.

Potential pollutant sources are listed in Section 11 of the Annual Sanitary Survey form. There are some resources that might be useful in helping you locate pollutant sources. For example, you can access the Permit Compliance System (PCS) to find dischargers in the watershed. You can check for other state and county documents that might contain information on things like di schargers, industries, and utilities in the area. You can walk or drive around the entire watershed, looking for signs of pollutants and potential sources of discharge. You can use the aerial photos on map sites lik e GoogleEarth.

Identify whether the source is a high, medium, or low contributor to beach pollution. If possible, determine when the source contributes to beach bacteria pollu tion; the frequency of o ccurrence; the amount of contamination; and how it is influe nced during dry, wet, and storm condi tions. Depending on the source, this information might be available from c ity, county, or state reports, or you mi ght be able to estimate contributions until further investigations can be done to quantify the pollutants.



### 6.12 Description of sanitary facilities and other facilities
You should examine the sanitary facilit ies to determine whether they could be a source of pollutants to the beach. Note the number of toilets, shower s, sinks, and the like to determine whether the facilities are adequate to accommodate the average and peak bather loads. Note their condition, their general location, and their distance from the beach and the water line.

If other facilities, such as restaurants, play areas, or pa rking lots, that could be a s ource of pollutants are present at the beach, examine them as well. You can consult with a sanitarian, city official, or public health official to access the plans and layouts of any sewe r lines in the beach area to determine their original intended capacity.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 6-16Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 7-1 

## 7. References

Alliance for the Great Lakes. 2004. Adopt-a-Beach Newsletter 2007 . < www.greatlakes.org/adopt/PDF/ Adopt-a-Beach_Newsletter_07.pdf >. Accessed March 19, 2007.

Alm, E.W., J. Burke, and E. Hagan. 2006. Persistence a nd potential growth of the fecal indicator bacteria, Escherichia coli , in shoreline sand at Lake Huron. Journal of Great Lakes Research 32 (2): 401-405.

Alm, E.W., J. Burke, and A. Spain. 2003. Fecal indica tor bacteria are abundant in wet sand at freshwater beaches. Water Research . 37(16): 3978-3982.

APHA (American Public Health Association). 1998. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater , 20th ed. American Public Hea lth Association, Washington, DC.

CTDEP. 1992. Guidelines for Monitoring Bathing Waters and Closure Protocol

. Connecticut Department of Envir onmental Protection, Hartford, CT.

Figueras, M.J., J.J. Borego, E.B. Pike, W. Robe rtson, and N. Ashbolt. 2000. Sanitary inspection and microbiological water quality. In Monitoring Bathing Waters: A Prac tical Guide to the Design and Implementation of Assessme nts and Monitoring Programmes , ed. J.B. a.G. Rees. E & FN SPON, London.

Francy, D.S., and R.A. Darner. 2006. Procedures for Developing Models to Predict Exceedances of Recreational Water-Quality Standards at Coastal Beaches . Techniques and Methods 6–B5. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

GLC (Great Lakes Commission). 2004. Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species . Great Lakes Commission.

< www.glc.org/ans >. Accessed June 7, 2006.

GLRC (Great Lakes Regional Collaboration of National Significance). 2005. Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy . Great Lakes Regional Collabora tion of National Significance.

Great Lakes Information Network. 2006. Great Lakes Levels and Hydrology . Great Lakes Information Network. < www.great-lakes.net/env t/water/levels/hydro.html >. Accessed March 21, 2007.

Great Lakes–Upper Mississippi River Bo ard of State Sanitary Engineers. 1990. Recommended Standards for Bathing Beaches . Health Education Service, Albany, NY.

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 1978.

MDEQ (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality). 2006. Background Information on Lake Levels in the Great Lakes . Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. < http://michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135- 3313_3677_3704-12566--,00.html >. Accessed June 7, 2006.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 7-2 New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium. Longshore Current. 2003. www.njmsc.org/Education/ Lesson_Plans/LongshoreCurrent.pdf >. Accessed September 11, 2007.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmo spheric Administration). 2003. Beach Nourishment: A Guide for Local Government Officials . National Oceanic and Atmo spheric Administration.

< www3.csc.noaa.gov/beachnourishment/index.htm >. Accessed June 7, 2006.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administ ration). 2006a. Great Lakes Water Level Data.

< http://tidesandc urrents.noaa.gov >. Accessed March 19, 2007.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrati on). 2006b. Great Lakes Stat es Monthly Precipitation Data. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admini stration, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. < www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/precip/precip.html >. Accessed March 21, 2007.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administ ration). 2006c. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service. < www.nws.noaa.gov/ >. Accessed March 21, 2007.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra tion). 2007a. Great Lakes Water Levels. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.

< www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/now /wlevels/levels.html >. Accessed March 21, 2007.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrati on). 2007b. NOAA Satellite and Information Service.

< www7.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/getcoopstates.html >. Accessed March 21, 2007.

Northeast-Midwest Institute. 2003. Racine Beach Grooming Tactics to Reduce Swimming Bans

. < www.glslcities.org/BP_RacineBeaches.htm >. Accessed September 11, 2007.

NPS (National Parks Service). 2003. Coastal Geology in Our National Parks: Engineering Impacts on the Coastal Environment . National Parks Service.

< www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/coastal/human_impact.cfm >. Accessed June 7, 2006.

Paraska, Jill. 1999. Exploring the Beach . National Science Teacher’s Association.

< www.nsta.org/programs/laptop/lessons/beach.pdf >. Accessed June 7, 2006.

Pfeifer, Shaili. 2005. Algae that’s bad news for the nose. Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine . Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. < www.wnrmag.com/stories/2005/jun05/algae.htm >. June. Accessed April 12, 2007.

Rose, J.B., R.M. Atlas, C.P. Gerba, M.R. Gilc hrist, M.W. LeChevallier, M.D. Sobsey, M.V. Yates, G.H. Cassell, and J.M. Tiedje. 1999. Microbial Pollutants in Our Nation's Water: Environmental and Public Health Issues . American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC.

Surfrider Foundation. 2007. State of the Beach. www.surfrider.org/stateofthebeach/05-sr/ state.asp?zone=GL&state=mi&cat=be

.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 7-3 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scie ntific, and Cultural Organization). 2005. Introduction to Sandwatch : An educational tool for sustainable development . Coastal region and small island papers 19. United Nations Educational, Scientific , and Cultural Organization, Paris.

< www.unesco.org/csi/pub/papers3/sande.htm >. Accessed March 15, 2007.

University of Minnesota Extension Service. 1998. Stabilizing Your Shoreline to Prevent Erosion—Shoreland Best Management Practices . Number 7 of 18 in the Series. Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

< www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/na turalresources/components/ DD6946g.html >. Accessed March 19, 2007.

University of Minnesota Extension Service. 2006. A field guide to aquatic exotic plants and animals . University of Minnesota Extension Service, Minnesota Sea Grant

. < www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/fieldguide.html >. Accessed March 19, 2007.

University of Minnesota Extension Se rvice. 2007. Aquatic Invasive Specie s (AIS). University of Minnesota Extension Service, Minnesota Sea Grant

. < www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/index.html >.Accessed March 19, 2007.

USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1985. Test Methods for Escherichia coli and Enterococci in Water by the Membrane Filter Procedure . EPA 600/4-85-076. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.

USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1986. Ambient Water Quality Cr iteria for Bacteria—1986. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Microbiology and Toxicology Division, and Office of Water Regulations and Standards, Criteria and Standards Division, Washington, DC.

USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1998. Lake and Reservoir Bioassessment and Biocriteria Technical Guidance Document . U.S. Environmental Protection Ag ency, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds and Office of Scie nce and Technology, Washington, DC.

USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Review of Potential Mode ling Tools and Approaches to Support the BEACH Program

. Final Draft. March 1999. U.S. Envir onmental Protection Agency, Office of Science and Technology, Washington, DC.

USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2000. Improved Enumeration Meth ods for the Recreational Water Quality Indicators: Enterococci and Escherichia coli.

USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2002a. Assessing and Monitoring Floating Debris . U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of We tlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Oceans and Coastal Protection Division, Washington, DC.

USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2002b. National Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants . EPA-823-B-02-004. U.S. Environmental Pr otection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 7-4 USGS (U.S. Geologi cal Survey). 1982. Measurement and Computation of Streamflow:,Volume 1. Measurement of Stage and Discharge, Volume 2 Computation of Discharge. Water Supply Paper 2175

< http://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/wsp2175/ >

. Accessed April 23, 2008.

USGS (U.S. Geologi cal Survey). 2005. Topographic Mapping

. < http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs /booklets/topo/topo.html >. Accessed June 7, 2006.

USGS (U.S. Geologi cal Survey). 2006. National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data : U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resour ces Investigations, book 9, chapters A1–A9.

< http://pubs.water .usgs.gov/twri9A >. Accessed March 22, 2007.

USGS (U.S. Geological Survey). 20 07a. USGS Surface-Water Data for th e Nation. U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Information System. < http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/sw >. Accessed March 21, 2007.

USGS (U.S. Geological Survey). 2007b. National Hydrography Datase t. U.S. Geological Survey.

< http://nhd.usgs.gov/index.html >. Accessed March 21, 2007.

Wehr, John D. and Robert G. Sheath. 2003. Freshwater Algae of North Amer ica: Ecology and Classification (Aquatic Ecology) . Elsevier Science (USA), Academic Press, San Diego, CA.

Whitman, Richard. USGS. March 2006. Personal Communications.

WHO (World Health Organization). 1999. Health-Based Monitoring of Recrea tional Waters: The Feasibility of a New Approach (The “Annapolis Protocol”). WHO/SD E/WSH/99.1. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 A-1 A. 

## Appendix A. Routine On-site Sanitary Survey FormGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 A-2GREAT LAKES BEACHES ROUTINE ON-SITE SANITARY SURVEY

Name of Beach: Date and Time of Survey:
Beach ID: Surveyor Name(s): Sampling Station(s)/ID: Surveyor Affiliation: STORET Organizational ID:

PART I – GENERAL BEACH CONDITIONS Speed (mph) Air Temperature: °C or °F Wind: Direction (e.g., E or 90°) (From which direction the wind is coming)

Rainfall: <24 hours <48 hours <72 >72 hours since last rain event and inches or cm rainfall measured Rain Intensity: Misting Light Rain Steady Rain Heavy Rain Other Weather Conditions: Sunny Mostly Sunny Partly Sunny Mostly Cloudy Cloudy Sky Condition Amount of cloud coverage No Clouds 1/8 to 2/8 3/8 to 1/2 5/8 to 7/8 Total Coverage Wave Intensity: Calm Normal Rough Wave Height: ft Estimated or Actual Longshore current speed and direction (cm/sec, S or 180°): Comments/Observations

PART II – WATER QUALITY Bacteria Samples Collected (list samples collected from beach water and potential pollutant sources, if applicable—see Part IV) Sample Point
Sample # Parameter ( E. coli

, enterococci, etc.) Comments:

Water Temperature: °C or °F Change in Color? yes no If yes, describe Odor: None Septic Algae Sulfur Other Turbidity: Clear Slightly Turbid Turbid Opaque or NTU: Comments/Observations

PART III – BATHER LOAD Total number of people in the water: Total number of people out of the water: Total number of people at the beach: List of Activities Seen (optional): Type of Activity
Number of People
Comments/ObservationsGREAT LAKES BEACHES ROUTINE ON-SITE SANITARY SURVEY (continued)

PART IV – POTENTIAL POLLUTANT SOURCES Sources of Discharge: Type River(s) Pond(s) Wetland(s) Outfall(s) Other (specify): Name(s) of Source(s) Amount (H, M, L)
Flow Rate (M/sec)
Volume
Characteristics

Did you collect any bacteria samples from the sources listed in the table above? yes no
If “Yes”, did you list the samples in the table in Part II, Water Quality? yes no Floatables present: yes no Please circle the following floatables if found: Type Street litter Food-related litter Medical items Sewagerelated Building materials Fishing related Household waste Other:

Example Cigarette filters Food packing, beverage containers Syringes Condoms, tampons Pieces of wood, siding Fishing line, nets, lures Household trash, plastic bags
Amount of Beach Debris/Litter on Beach: None Low (1-20%) Moderate (21-50%) High (>50%) Type of Debris/Litter Found ( please circle)

Type Street litter Food-related litter Medical items Sewagerelated Building materials Fishing related Household waste Tar Oil/ Grease Other:

Example Cigarette filters Food packing, beverage containers Syringes Condoms, tampons Pieces of wood, siding Fishing line, nets, lures Household trash, plastic bags Tar balls Oil slick

Amount of Algae in Nearshore Water: None Low (1-20%) Moderate (21-50%) High (>50%) Amount of Algae on Beach: Circle the types of algae found None Low (1-20%) Moderate (21-50%) High (>50%)

Type Periphyton Globular Free floating Other
Description Attached to rocks, stringy Blobs of floating materials No obvious mass of materials Please describe

Circle the color of algae found Light green Bright green Dark green Yellow Brown Other

Presence of Wildlife and Domestic Animals Type Geese Gulls Dogs Other (specify) Number
List the number of each species of bird found dead on the beach
Type Common loons Herring gulls Ring-billed gulls Double crested cormorants Long-tailed ducks White-winged scoter Horned grebes Red-necked grebes Other

Number found dead

Number of dead fish found on the beach:
Comments/Observations (continue on back if necessary):Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 B-1 B. 

## Appendix B. Routine On-site Sanitary Survey Methods FormGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 B-2GREAT LAKES BEACHES ROUTINE ON-SITE SANITARY SURVEY METHODS

PART I – GENERAL BEACH CONDITIONS
Air Temperature: Liquid-in-glass thermometer Electronic thermometer Weather report from local airport Weather report from local weather station Other (describe):

Wind Speed and Direction:
Wind vane for direction Wind sock for direction and speed Anemometer for wind speed Aerovane for wind direction and speed Weather report from local airport Weather report from local weather station Other (describe):

Distance from station: (ft / mi)

Weather Conditions: Visual observations Other (describe):

Rainfall: Rain gauge Weather report Other (describe):

Distance from station or gauge: (ft / mi)

Longshore Current Speed: Stick with fishing reel with water balloon on end Ball and tether Other (describe):

Wave Height: Visual examination of wave height Graduated stick and ranging pole Other (describe):

PART II – WATER QUALITY

Water temperature: Multiprobe Electronic meter Graduated thermometer Report from local radio station Report from NOAA weatherband radio Other (describe):

Turbidity: Simple visual observation Visual test kit Titrimetric test kit Nephelometer/Turbidimeter Other (describe):

PART III – BATHER LOAD

Numbers of People Participating in Various Activities: Counting by surveyor Counting by lifeguards Photos Turnstyles Other (describe):GREAT LAKES BEACHES ROUTINE ON-S ITE SANITARY SURVEY METHODS (continued)

PART IV – POTENTIAL POLLUTANT SOURCES
Sources of Discharge: (a) Source identification: Visual observation WWTP Notification/Report Other (describe):

Mechanical flow meter Electric flow meter USGS Gauging Station WWTP Notification/Report (b) Flow/velocity or Volume measured: Orange (float) and stopwatch Other (describe):

Floatables Present: Visual observation Cleanup event results Other (describe):

Amount and Type of Beach Debris/Litter on Beach: Visual observation Cleanup event results Other (describe):

Algae in Nearshore Water and Beach: (a) Amount and Color: Visual observation Other (describe):

(b) Identification: Field guide or internet site for taxonomic identification (describe): Other (describe):

Presence of Wildlife and Domestic Animals: Counting using hand-held counter, and if necessary, binoculars Other (describe):

Dead birds: (a) Amount: Visual observation Other (describe):

(b) Identification: Field guide or internet site for taxonomic identification (describe): Other (describe):

Dead fish: (a) Amount: Visual observation Other (describe):

(b) Identification: Field guide or internet site for taxonomic identification (describe): Other (describe):Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 C-1 C. 

## Appendix C. Annual Sanitary Survey FormGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 C-2GREAT LAKES BEACH ANNUAL SANITARY SURVEY

1. BASIC INFORMATION

Name of Beach: Date(s) of Survey:

Beach ID: Name of Waterbody: Town/City/County/State: Number of Routine Surveys Used: Sampling Station(s)/ID: Name(s) of Surveyor(s): STORET Organizational ID: Surveyor Affiliation:

2. DESCRIPTION OF LAND USE IN WATERSHED Current Land Use in Watershed Type Residential Industrial Commercial Agricultural Percentage Other (specify):

Development Describe % undeveloped

% developed How was land use measured: Waterbody Uses: Boating Fishing Surfing Windsurfing Diving Other (specify) Are maps of the beach area attached? yes no Are maps of the watershed attached? yes no List maps and their sources:

Does the detailed map include locations of: Sample Points yes no (explain): Hydrometric Network yes no (explain):
Pollutant Sources yes no (explain):
Boat Traffic yes no (explain):
Marinas yes no (explain): Boat dockage yes no (explain): Fishing yes no (explain): Bathing/Swimming yes no (explain): Bounding Structures: Jetty yes no (explain):
Groin yes no (explain):
Seawall yes no (explain):
Other yes no (explain): Sanitary Facilities yes no (explain): Restaurants/Bars yes no (explain): Playground yes no (explain): Parking Lot(s) yes no (explain):
Other yes no (explain):

Erosion/Accretion Measurements

High Watermark Location Identification Fixed Object Description (e.g., tree, building) Distance from Fixed Object to High

Watermark Feet or Meters? Distance between High Watermark Locations Feet or Meters?
A A ↔ B:
B B ↔ C: C C ↔ D: D (optional) D ↔ E: E (optional)GREAT LAKES BEACH ANNUAL SANITARY SURVEY (continued)

Bounding Structures Bounding Structure Number Description or Comment Jetty Groin Seawall Natural formation Other (specify): Other (specify): Beach Materials/Sediments: Sandy Mucky Rocky Other: Or, Beach Materials/Sediments Lab Analysis (attach diagram or photos of plot locations) Name of Lab Used: Date of Sample Collection:

Plot ID Mean Grain Size Diameter Uniformity Coefficient Description of Plot Location:

Average Describe the results and conclusion of the sediment analysis and potential effects of the sediment distribution at this beach:

Photos Taken in the Beach Area or Surrounding Watershed Image Number Date/Time File Name Description of Photograph (Include Pictures of High Watermark Locations and Corresponding Fixed Objects)

Habitat around beach:

Dunes Wetlands River/stream Forest Park Protected Habitat or Reserve
Other:

3. Weather CONDITIONS Examine the weather data collected over the prior beach season(s) along with bacteria sampling results. Do the bacteria concentrations at this beach appear to correlate with any of the following? Rainfall yes no (explain): Air Temperature yes no (explain): Water Temperature yes no (explain): Cloud Cover yes no (explain): Wind Speed yes no (explain): Wind Direction yes no (explain): Longshore Current yes no (explain): Wave Height or Intensity yes no (explain): Other Weather yes no (explain): Have any statistical analyses been done to calculate the degree of correlation? yes noGREAT LAKES BEACH ANNUAL SANITARY SURVEY (continued)

Describe any analyses done, and any trends or correlations found (add lines if needed to describe in detail):

Average air temperature during beach season: ° C or ° F Average water temperature during beach season: ° C or °F Average wind speed and direction during beach season (e.g., E or 90° at 15 mph): Typical weather conditions: Sunny Mostly Sunny Partly Cloudy Mostly Cloudy Overcast Rainy Rainfall total for the beach season (in): Average rainfall for all beach seasons (in): Does rainfall intensity correlate with bacteria sample results? yes no Describe:

Number of significant rain events: What constitutes “significant?” (e.g., 1 inch or more rain)
Additional Comments/Observations:

4. PHYSICAL BEACH CONDITIONS Beach length or dimensions (indicate Z1, Z2, and Z3 on a map) Length (m): Width (average, in m): Width Z1 (m): Width Z2 (m): Width Z3 (m):
Local water level variation: feet inches Hydrographic influences (e.g., seiches): Characterize any longshore or nearshore currents and their potential effects based on bacteria sampling results

Approximate beach slope at swim area: % Description and date of last beach rehabilitation (example: new sand, nourishment, dredging, etc., physical structures will be described in Sections 12 and 13):

Comments/Observations:

5. BATHER LOAD (# OF BEACH USERS) Is bather load measured? yes no If yes, describe how beachgoer numbers are calculated (i.e., turnstile, counting at noon, photos):GREAT LAKES BEACH ANNUAL SANITARY SURVEY (continued)

Beach Use Number of People Per Day Using the Beach
Beachgoer Category Peak Use for the Season (Daily Use) Seasonal Average (Daily Use) Holiday Average (Daily Use) Weekend Average (Daily Use) Weekday Average (Daily Use) Off-Season Average if applicable (Daily Use) Total people in the water Total people out of the water Total people at the beach Breakdown of Activities (if activities were broken down on the Routine-Onsite Sanitary Survey, summarize them here) Activity 1: Activity 2: Activity 3: Activity 4: Activity 5: Activity 6: Frequency of measurements (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly)

Examine bather load data along with sampling results for the past beach season(s). Look at each sampling point. Does bather loa d appear to correlate with bacteria concentrations at any of these sampling points? Does the amount of people in the water or out of th e water correlate with bacteria concentrations? Has a statistical analysis been done? Describe:

Comments/Observations:

6. BEACH CLEANING Beach cleaning frequency during season: Description of cleanup activities

Leveling of Sand Trimming or Removing Vegetation Removing Debris Removing Trash Construction and Maintenance of a Temporary Pathway Directly to Open Water Other (specify):
Check activities that were done Equipment used (if applicable)

How often are floatables found at the beach? Never Sometimes Frequently Very frequently
Known sources of floatables: Types of floatables found Street litter Food-related litter Medical items Sewage-related Building materials Fishing-related Household waste Other: How often is beach debris/litter found on the beach? Never Sometimes Frequently Very frequently
Known sources of debris:GREAT LAKES BEACH ANNUAL SANITARY SURVEY (continued)

Type of Debris/Litter Found
Street litter Food-related litter Medical items Sewage-related Building materials Fishing-related Household waste Tar Oil/Grease Other: Comments/Observations:

7. INFORMATION ON SAMPLING LOCATION Description of Sample Points (include beach water and potential pollutant sources)
Sample Point Name/ID Location Description Sample Frequency Time of Day of Sample Collection

Description of hydrometric network [note that this is a network of monitoring stations that collect data such as rainfall and s tream flow]

Comments/Observations:

8. WATER QUALITY SAMPLING Name of laboratory: Distance to laboratory: miles Is there a sampling and analysis plan? yes no Is it adequate? yes no (explain):

Are the sampling staff properly trained on sampling techniques, equipment maintenance, and calibration procedures? yes no Biological Survey Results : Were invasive/nonnative species present? yes no (describe):

Have algae blooms been observed during the beach season? (If so, specify duration and algae species)

Percent of beach season where algae was present in significant amounts in the nearshore water: None Low (1–20%) Moderate (21–50%) High (> 50%) Percent of beach season where algae was present in significant amounts on the beach: None Low (1–20%) Moderate (21–50%) High (> 50%) List types of algae found: Colors of algae most commonly found: List any infectious snails that were found: List any dangerous aquatic organisms that were found:GREAT LAKES BEACH ANNUAL SANITARY SURVEY (continued)

Presence of Wildlife and Domestic Animals

Type Degree of Presence (Low, Mod, High) Does the Presence Appear to Correlate with Bacteria Results? (Yes, No, Don’t Know) Describe Further (include whether fecal droppings are seen and are a problem)

Geese Gulls Dogs Other (specify): Other (specify): Other (specify):
Was a significant number of dead birds found on the beach during beach season? yes no Describe types and numbers found and possible causes:

Was a significant number of dead fish found on the beach during the beach season? yes no Describe numbers found and possible causes:

Bacteria Samples Collected

Do you test for Escherichia coli ? yes no Analytical Method Used: Do you test for Enterococcus ? yes no Analytical Method Used: Do you test for fecal coliform? yes no Analytical Method Used: List any additional bacteria tested and associated analytical methods: Do you composite any bacteria samples? yes no If yes, explain:

How do this past season’s bacteria results compare to that of previous years’?

Do the bacteria results correlate to other parameters, such as water quality, weather, flow, bather load, algae, or wildlife? yes no Describe in detail analyses that were performed on the data (add additional lines as needed).

Water Quality (check all that are measured regularly) Temperature pH Rainfall Turbidity Conductivity Other

How does the water quality data compare to data from previous years?

Do any data correlate with bacteria sample results? yes no If yes, explain:GREAT LAKES BEACH ANNUAL SANITARY SURVEY (continued)

Were there any unusual results, such as extremely high or low values detected, or unusual trends? yes no If yes, explain what was found and any potential causes:

Are water quality annual trend data attached? yes no

Comments/Observations:

9. MODELING
Are models being used? yes no If yes, list types of models being used and a brief description of the models:

Comments/Observations:

10. ADVISORIES/CLOSINGS
List any advisories and closings that occurred, whether bacteria levels were high, and any possible reasons for advisory or closing or high bacteria level, such as stormwater runoff, sewage spill, or wildlife on the beach.

Advisory or Closing (specify one) Start and End Dates Length of Advisory or Closing (Days) Did Bacteria Concentrations Exceed GM or SSM Criteria? Reason for Advisory or Closing or Possible Contributing Factors

Total number of closings issued: Total number of days under an advisory: Total number of advisories issued: Total number of days beach was closed:

Comments/Observations:GREAT LAKES BEACH ANNUAL SANITARY SURVEY (continued)

11. POTENTIAL POLLUTANT SOURCES

Type of Source Level of Concern (H, M, L, or NA) Latitude* Longitude* Describe how this source might contribute to beach pollutants and frequency of contribution Wastewater discharges Sewage overflows Septic systems Subsurface sewage disposal Stormwater outfalls Natural outfalls CAFOs or AFOs Wildlife Agriculture runoff Urban runoff, industrial waste Marinas, harbors Mooring boats Domestic animals Unsewered areas Erosion-prone areas Landfills, open dumps Groundwater seepage Bathhouse leakage Drains and pipes nearby Stream or wetland drainage
Vacant areas Other (specify):
Other (specify):
Other (specify):

*If latitude and longitude are unknown, show the location on the det ailed map and describe in the Comments/Observations section below. Have potential pollutant sources identified above been included on the detailed map? yes no (explain):

Did you collect bacteria samples from any potential pollutant sources, such as streams or outfalls? yes no (explain):

If yes, describe any analyses performed and a summary of the results:

Are there any discharge reports available for dischargers in the watershed? yes no If yes, attach report or pertinent
sections and summarize here:GREAT LAKES BEACH ANNUAL SANITARY SURVEY (continued)

Have any sources been remediated, or have steps been taken to remediate sources? yes no (explain):

Comments/Observations:

12. DESCRIPTION OF SANITARY FACILITIES

Bathhouses: Total number of bathhouses at the beach:

Number or ID Location Condition (Good, Fair, or Poor) Distance from Waterline (feet) Frequency of Cleaning (Daily, Weekly, Monthly)

Describe further. Include number of toilets, showers, sinks, etc., and whether these facilities are adequate to support beach u se.

Litterbins: Total number of litterbins at the beach:

Number or ID Location Condition (Good, Fair, or Poor) Distance from Waterline (feet) Frequency of Emptying (Daily, Weekly, Monthly)

Describe further. Include whether number and location of litterbins is adequate to support beach use.

13. DESCRIPTION OF OTHER FACILITIES
List facilities in the beach area, such as restaurants, bars, playgrounds, parking lots, and dog parks.

Facility Name/Type Location Condition (Good, Fair, or Poor) Distance from Beach (feet) How might this facility contribute to water quality problems?

Comments/Observations:Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 D-1 D. 

## Appendix D. Quality Assurance and Quality Control

States, tribes, and local agencies should use the inform ation in this document and follow their agency-specific QA/QC procedures for data colle ction, entry, and analysis when performing sanitary surveys.

Most agencies should already have QA/QC procedur es for performing beach monitoring because such procedures are required to obtai n BEACH Grants in accordance with the EPA regulations at 40 CFR 31.45 governing grants to states, tribes, and local governments. Specifically, th e regulations require the following:

If the grantee’s project involve s environmentally related measurements or data generation, the grantee shall develop and implement quality assurance practices consisting of policies, procedures, specifications, standa rds, and documentation sufficient to produce data of quality adequate to meet project objectives and to mini mize loss of data due to out-of-control conditions or malfunctions.

An agency’s QA/QC procedures should be updated, as needed, to include QA/QC procedures for performing the sanitary surveys described in th is document. An agency’s QA/QC pro cedures are generally documented in quality management plans (QMPs), quali ty assurance project plans (QAPPs), and standard operating procedures (SOPs). If an agency needs to develop additional qual ity documentation for performing sanitary surveys, it should refer to the documents below (available on EPA’s quality Web site at www.epa.gov/quality/qa_docs.html ) for requirements and guidance:

• EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans (QA/R-2)

• EPA Requirements for QA Project Plans (QA/R-5)

• Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plan s (QA/G-5)

• Guidance for Preparing Standard Operating Procedures (QA/G-6)

Typically, the written quality documentation takes the fo rm of a QAPP. A QAPP typica lly details the technical activities and QA/QC procedures that s hould be implemented to ensure that data meet the specified standards. The QAPP should identify who will be involved in the projec t and their responsibilities; the nature of the study or monitoring program; the questions to be addressed or decisions to be made on the basis of the data collected; where, how, and when samples will be taken and analy zed; the requirements for data quality; the specific activities and procedures to be perf ormed to obtain the requisite level of quality, including QC checks and oversight; and how the data will be managed, analyzed, checked to ensure that it meets the project goals, and reported. The QAPP should be implemented to ensure that data collected and analy tical data generated are complete, accurate, and suitable for the intended purpose.

States, tribes, and local agencies shou ld also document their methods and a ssessment procedures in their quality system documentation. For routine implementation of these methods, SOPs, which can be referenced in and provided with the quality system docum entation, provide a tool to assist th e person(s) performing the activities. An SOP typically presents in detail the method for a give n technical (not administra tive) operation, analysis, or action in sequential steps. It incl udes specific facilities, equipment, materials, and methods; QA and QC procedures; and other factors necessary to perform the operation, analysis, or action. If the SOP is followed, the operation should be performed the same way every time; that is, the operation is st andardized. The activities being performed might include field sampling and database management. Th e format and content requirementsGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 D-2 for an SOP are flexible because the c ontent and level of detail vary according to the nature of the procedure. SOPs should be revised when new equipment is used, wh en comments by personnel indica te that the directions are not clear, or when a problem occurs. States, tribes, and local agencies should ensu re that obsolete documents are removed and that the revised SOPs are used in subsequent tasks.

EPA recommends that a registered sanitarian superv ise the first few Routine On-site Sanitary Surveys performed by volunteers or lif eguards. In addition, as R outine On-site Sanitary Survey forms are completed, the registered sanitarian or designee should review the forms for any problems (e.g., incomplete answers, questionable responses). The registered sanitarian should provide some guida nce to the volunteers or lifeguards to ensure that problems are remedied. The following ar e some additional quality guidelines that should be followed:

• Make sure a second person checks the sa nitary survey form to be sure it has been filled out correctly.

• Follow the calibration procedures for each instrument carefully. Flow meters have been factorycalibrated, but they must be checked regularly to ensu re that they are working properly before use. The calibration of pH, conductivity/salinity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and turbidity probes should be checked (at a minimum) once daily, before initial de ployment, or as deemed necessary by the equipment manufacturer, using the standard solutions.

• Contact the laboratory at least 8 to 10 hours (24 hours is ideal) before the start of the sampling event to determine whether additional volumes of samples must be collected for QC analyses in the laboratory. If field blanks, trip blanks , and field duplicates ar e required (requirements sh ould be specified in the QAPP), they must be collected as specified by the lab. If a sampling trip is cancelled, notify the lab immediately.

• Prevent contamination of samples at all times. Take care with respect to e quipment handling, container handling and storage, decontamination, and reco rd keeping. Rinse and clean sample collection equipment as necessary before and after each samp ling episode, with the exception of pre-preserved containers. Wear clean, pow der-free gloves or make sure your hands are clean.

In addition to the general quality considerations, EPA recommend that you develop SOPs for each activity or piece of equipment. Because completing the survey and performing sampling generally require the application of best professional judgment in a ddition to following predetermined step s, EPA recommends that only persons who have received training in the oper ation of each type of equipment a nd have experience in monitoring water quality be responsible for co mpleting the sanitary survey.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 E-1 E. 

## Appendix E. Equipment and Supplies

A list of potential vendors to help you locate beach water quality supplies is in the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Volunteer Surface Water Monitoring Guide, at www.pca.state.mn.us/water/monitoring-guide.html

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The overall potential cost of a sanitary survey ranges from tens to t housands of dollars. For the purposes of this evaluation, the expense assessment is associated with monitoring equipmen t and health and safety equipment for the survey teams. Health and safety are not cons idered optional; however, there are some cost-control opportunities in the selection and use of safety equipment. For the purpose of this an alysis, the minimum safety requirements are safety glasse s, gloves, and rubber boots.

Again, safety equipment is not an option. Therefore, th e overall expense variable lies primarily with the sampling and water quality testing equipment and supplies. Some or most of this expense might already be covered by a beach monitoring program. Critical to these ar e (1) what capital equipment might be available in the survey sponsorship organizations, (2) what data are most important to the sponsors, (3) the overall qualifications of the sampling team st aff, (4) how many survey stations or locations are identified within a sponsor’s jurisdiction, and (5) the time frame for completing the surveys. A significant number of stations or transects to be surveyed might dict ate the need for a more expensive monitoring option, but the number of stations will ultimately drive down the cost per surve y. As a basic estimate of some of the costs of field measurement equipment, a single-parameter nephelo meter/turbidimeter runs between $700 and $1,000, and multiprobe instruments that can measure temperatur e, pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen are in the $1,700–$2,000 range (without turbidity probe). Portable digi tal thermometers range from less than $100 to $300 for a high-quality, National Inst itute of Standards and Testin g (NIST) traceable calibration.Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 E-2Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 F-1 F. 

## Appendix F: Sampling and Analytical Methods for Bacteria

F.1 Methods of sample collection Qualified local laboratory services ar e a tremendous source for information. In addition to providing analytical support for monitoring recrea tional waters for pathogens, laboratories usually provide their own sterilized sample containers and custody documents to record dates, times, and sample locatio ns. Local laboratories often provide training for sampling personne l, or laminated sampling guides to assist in appropr iately collecting samples and completing sample documentation. Sampling procedures should be developed into standard operating procedures (SOPs) based on th e variety of sampling requirements for the target sites. (For example, variable accessibility and sampling de pths in the monitoring design could re quire that differe nt techniques be employed at different locations.) In ge neral, samples should be collected at the desired depth(s) directly into sterilized containers. The containers should then be sealed, labeled, and chilled for transport to the local laboratory.

The first sample collected for the day should be a field blank. A field blank is simply a volume of reagent water or sterilized buffer solution that was transported to the field and transferre d into a sample container to assess potential contamination from the sampling technique.

Duplicate samples, if included in th e monitoring design, should be collecte d simultaneously, if possible (i.e., if two containers can be held at once in one hand). If two containers can’t be managed without spillage, collect the duplicates sequentially.

Chapter 4 and Appendix J of the National Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants (USEPA 2002b) provide detailed discu ssions on sample collection, sample handling, and suggested procedures. Before developing SOPs, you should c onsult the local laboratory for reco mmendations because protocols that are relevant and applicable to the samp ling design might alre ady be available.

Local laboratory support is critical because laboratory analysis for pathogenic indicators should be performed within 24 hours of sample collecti on (the measurement holding time). An alysis of samples collected for compliance purposes for the measurement of pathogen indica tors must be initiated within 8 hours of collection (6 hours transport to the laboratory and 2 hours to initiate processing in the laboratory). Local laboratory resources that are qualified to perform testing can be readily identified through local departments of health. Note, however, that many laboratories certified to anal yze pathogen indicators might not be certified for the preferred indicators for recreational waters, E. coli and enterococci. Part of your laboratory selection process should include reviewing and assessi ng laboratory certifications, which, in some programs, might certify by pollutant or parameter or might certify to the method level.



### F.2 Methods of analysis On the basis of the potential for other data uses and the critical need to protect human health, EPA recommends using the established, reproducible me thods described at 40 CFR Part 136 fo r measuring pathogenic indicators, E. coli , enterococci, and any additional indicators of interest. The method s identified at Part 136 include methods published in the 1995 Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International , the 20th edition ofGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 F-2 Standard Methods , the 2000 edition of the Annual Book of ASTM Standards (Vols. 11.01 and 11.02), and additional methods of analysis developed by commercial vendors, including Hach a nd IDEXX Laboratories. In addition, Part 136 describes a program for laboratories to obtain approval of alternative test procedures (ATP). A number of methods have been pro posed to update Table 1A of Part 136 to exploit advances in measurement systems and technology toward a faster, more reliable as sessment of bacterial indicators. Consultation with local laboratory resources will reveal the analytical opti ons available locally for use in monitoring recreational
waters.

Analytical methods for microbiological analysis of pathogens and pathogen indicators typically consist of introducing or exposing samples to a growth medium (or more than one medium ) followed by incubation and examination of the number and type of biological coloni es grown. Sample introduction can include inoculation of a sample into a liquid medium or f iltration of a sample through a filter, wh ich is placed in its entirety onto a medium for incubation. Different media ar e selectively fortified with nutrients most benefici al to different target organisms; thus, between the selecti on of media and incubation temperatur es, different conditions assist in isolating different target organi sms or classes of organisms.

In general, the analysis methods for reporting E. coli and enterococci in aqueous samples are described as membrane filtration (MF) and most probable number (MPN ). MF is a direct-plating method in which sample dilutions/volumes are filtered through membrane filters and transferred to petri plates containing selective media. A second substrate medium is used in the two-step MF procedures to different iate the target organisms. In MPN tests, a series of test tubes containing growth media are inoculated with sample or sample dilutions, and the number of test tubes or wells producing a positive re action provides an estimate of the original, undiluted density (concentration) of target or ganisms in the sample. This estimate of target organisms, based on probability formulas, is called the most probable number. MPN tests can be conducted in multiple-tube fermentation (MTF), multiple-tube enzyme substrat e, or multiple-well enzyme substrate formats.

Chapter 4 of the National Beach Guidance and Required Performance Criteria for Grants (USEPA 2002b) provides a number of EPA and other methods within these two categories. Among them are the four preferred MF methods of analysis descri bed in detail as follows:

Membrane filter tests for enterococci EPA Method 1600 (mEI media). Method 1600 is a si ngle-step MF procedure that provides a direct count of enterococci in water based on the development of colonies on the surface of a filter when placed on selective mEI agar (USEPA 1997). This medium, a modificati on of the mE agar in EPA Method 1106.1, contains a reduced amount of 2-3-5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride , and an added chromogen, indoxyl-ß-D-glucoside. This change in ingredients allows for results in 24 hours rather than 48 hours, and it eliminates the second filter transfer step from mE to Esculin ir on agar (EIA). In this method, a water sample is filtered, and the filter is placed on mEI agar and incubated at 41 ± 0.5 °C for 24 hours. Following incubation, a ll colonies with a blue halo, regardless of colony color, are counted as ente rococci. Results are reported as enterococci per 100 mL.

EPA Method 1106.1 (mE media). EPA Method 1106.1 is a two-step MF procedure that provides a direct count of enterococci in water based on the development of col onies on the surface of a membrane filter when placed on a selective medium (USEPA 1985). A water sample is filtered through a 0.45- μ m membrane filter, and the filter is placed on a plate containi ng se lective mE agar. After the plate is incubated at 41 ± 0.5 °C for 48 hours, the filter is transferred to an EIA plate and incubated at 41 ± 0.5 °C fo r 20 to 30 minutes. After incubation, allGreat Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 F-3 pink to red colonies on the mE agar that form a black or reddish-brown precipitate on the underside of the filter when placed on EIA are counted as en terococci. The organism density is reported as enterococci per 100 mL.

Membrane filter tests for E. coli Modified EPA Method 1103.1 (Modified mTEC Media). Modified EPA Method 1103.1 is a single-step MF procedure that provides a direct count of E. coli in water based on the developmen t of colonies on the surface of a filter when placed on a selective modified mTEC me dium (USEPA 1985). This is a modification of the standard mTEC media that eliminates bromcresol purple and bromphenol red from the medium, adds the chromogen 5-bromo-6-chloro-3-indolyl- ß -D-glucuronide, and eliminates the transfer of the filter to a second substrate medium. In this method, a wa ter sample is filtered through a 0.45- μ m membrane filter. The filter is placed on modified mTEC agar, incubated at 35 ± 0.5 °C fo r 2 hours to resuscitate injured or stressed bacteria, and then incubated for 23 ± 1 hours in a 44.5 ± 0.2 °C water bath. Following incuba tion, all red or magenta colonies are counted as E. coli

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EPA Method 1103.1 (mTEC Agar). EPA Method 1103.1 is a two-step procedure that provides a direct count of E. coli in water based on the development of colonies on the surface of a membrane filter when placed on a selective nutrient and substrate medium (USEPA 1985). EPA originally developed this method to monitor the quality of recreation waters. This method also was used in health studies to develop the bacteriological ambient water quality criteria for E. coli . In this method, a water sample is filtered through a 0.45- μ m membrane filter, the filter is placed on mTEC agar (a selective primary is olation medium), and the plat e is incubated first at 35 ± 0.5 °C for 2 hours to resuscitate injure d or stressed bacteria and then at 44.5 ± 0.2 °C for 23 ± 1 hours in a water bath. Following incubation, the filter is transferred to a filter pad saturated with urea substrate medium. After 15 minutes, all yellow or yellow-brown colonies (occas ionally yellow-green) are counted as positive for E. coli

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The Beach Guidance continues to de scribe and recommend an EPA video, Improved Enumeration Methods for the Recreational Water Quality Indicators: Enterococci and Escherichia coli, which demonstrates the four methods EPA recommends. These are the mEI and the mE agar methods for enterococci and the modified mTEC and mTEC agar methods for E. coli . The purpose of the video is to introduce and demonstrate the improved methods. Accompanying the vide o is a laboratory manual having the sa me name that explains all four methods step by step (USEPA 2000b). The laboratory manual also contains color photos of the target colonies on all media to aid in identification. The video and methods manual are availa ble to all interest ed laboratories. For copies of the manual (EPA 821R-97-004) or vi deotape (EPA 822V-99-001), send a request to EPA’s National Service Center for E nvironmental Publications ( www.epa.gov/ncepihom or phone 513-489-8190). The manual is also available at www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches or www.epa.gov/microbes

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Other methods recommended in the 40 CFR Part 136 rule In the Part 136 ( Guidelines Establishing Test Proc edures for the Analysis of Pollu tants; Analytical Methods for Biological Pollutants in Ambient Water; Final Rule ), EPA outlined several addi tional methods to be used to
enumerate E. coli and enterococci. Additional information on these methods is at www.epa.gov/waterscience/methods

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Most probable number tests for E. coli: • LTB EC-MUG (Standard Methods 9221B.1/9221F) • ONPG-MUG (Standard Methods 9223B, AOAC 991.15, Colil ert, Colilert-18, and Autoanalysis Colilert) • CPRG-MUG (Standard Methods 9223B, Colisure TM )Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 F-4 Membrane filter tests for E. coli: • mEndo, LES-Endo, or mFC followed by transfer to NA-MUG media (Standard Methods 9222B/9222G or 9222D/9222G) • MI agar • m-ColiBlue24 broth

Most probable number tests for enterooccci: • Azide Dextrose/PSE/BHI (Standard Methods 9230B) • MUG media (ASTM D6503-99, Enterolert)

These alternative method desc riptions are followed by a ca utionary statement that beach managers “should be aware of the methods that may be used for analyzing the water samples from beaches to meet particular monitoring program objectives.”

The single-step methods are preferred ove rall in light of the speed of the analysis and the opportunity to make decisions and take rapid action if there are elevated results or wate r quality exceedances (i.e., resampling, swimmer advisories, or beach closures).

Data interpretation Data interpretation and determination of attainment for pa thogen indicator criteria ar e discussed in Section 5.3.2 of the implementation guide (USEPA 2002), and they depe nd on the number and type of sampling events that were conducted and on the criterion established locally for issuing advisories or closing beaches. EPA recommended in its 1986 water quality criteria, as we ll as in its 2002 draft implementation guidance (USEPA 2002), that rather than a prescriptive concen tration standard of colony-forming units of E. coli and enterococci per unit volume (100 mL), loca l standards be established on the basis of a maximum acceptable predictive risk stated in illnesses per 1,000 bathers. Calculation of crite ria for selected illness rates ar e included in the tables in Appendix C of the implementation guide, along with the formulas from which they are derived.

EPA recommends establishing local sample maximum and ge ometric mean criteria on the basis of monitoring frequency and frequency of use for r ecreational waters. So, too, should local action plans be developed to define what sample measurement values dictate what correctiv e measures. These actions should consider not only the measurement data collected during rou tine monitoring but also the seasonal ity and the frequency of use during the sampling periods. For instance, more remote or infreque ntly used beaches are likely to be subject to lesser monitoring priorities; thus, they are not as likely to issue advisories or closures becau se of moderately elevated results. Similarly, consideration of seasonality should be included in bot h monitoring and assessment plans to ensure that criteria for advisories or closures are less st ringent during non-swimming seasons and that they do not suggest the need for unnecessary additional treatment in local POTWs. Excessive disinfection can cause formation of disinfection by-products (like trihalomethanes), which are th emselves an environmental concern and potential health hazard.

Geometric means are widely used because they incorpor ate a rolling average, thereby limiting the impact of sample variability common in pathogenic indicators. Pathogens have been observed to exhibit significant variability by time of day and in ligh t of prevailing weather conditions. Geom etric mean criteria also generally include a stipulated minimu m number of samples included in the asse ssment, commonly five samples over 30 days; however, this criterion might be unrealistic for smaller monitoring jurisdictions or for more remote, less-Great Lakes Beach Sanitary Survey User Manual—May 2008 F-5 used waters. Table 5-1 in the draft implementation guide explores monito ring approaches and assessments for less frequently used primary contact waters. You should always consider the frequency of monitoring when adapting criteria and when determining whether the water attains water quality standards.