U.S. to cut funds for water testing at beaches

[XemaSab]

Health testing at beaches in California and across the nation is at risk of being cut under a plan to eliminate federal funds for monitoring whether the water is too contaminated to swim in.

Citing the "difficult financial climate," the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in its budget request this week that it would do away with $10 million in grants it gives each year to state and local agencies in coastal and Great Lakes states to test for tainted water.

"While beach monitoring continues to be important to protect human health and especially sensitive individuals," the EPA said in an emailed statement, "states and local governments now have the technical expertise and procedures to continue beach monitoring without federal support."

But state and local officials have struggled to pay for health testing along California's busy coastline in recent years, and water quality advocates worry that swimmers and surfers will be at even greater risk of getting sick if the federal funds evaporate.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/16/local/la-me-0216-beach-testing-20120216

[Irishonly]

1. Heavy Sigh

I don't go to beaches often. Since the mastectomy I have to be careful of bacteria and I won't get into the water. I don't think California can test the water often enough to insure safe bacteria levels. If they do, I wonder what will be cut from the strained budget.