Bacteria Are Important

Bacteria come in many shapes and sizes. Without bacteria, the earth would be in trouble. Many types of bacteria are helpful. Other types of bacteria can make people sick. Since it's too costly to test for pathogenic organisms, the BEACH Program uses enterococcus bacteria to help identify beaches that might have the kinds of bacteria that make people sick. These bacteria originate from the intestinal tracks of warm-blooded animals, and the levels in water are relatively easy to measure.

EPA has established water quality standards for enterococcus to protect the use of swimming and other forms of recreation in marine salt waters. It's important to remember that swimming in untreated waters includes the possibility of coming in contact with bacteria including the kinds that might make you sick. Remember to wash your hands and body after swimming!

In addition to EPA’s enterococcus criteria, the Washington State Department of Ecology uses fecal coliform bacteria as an indicator to protect both shellfish and recreational water users. You can learn more about the State of Washington’s water quality standards here.