Connecticut

13th in Beachwater Quality

5% of samples exceeded national standards in 2009 *

Dirtiest Beachwater (% of samples exceeding state standards in 2009)
• Kiddie Beach in New London County (50%)
• Marvin Beach in Fairfield County (17%)
• Eastern Point Beach in New London County (16%)

Connecticut has 66 public beaches stretching along 18 miles of Long Island Sound coastline. The Connecticut
Department of Public Health (CT DPH) administers the state’s BEACH Act grant.

Monitoring
Sampling Practices: Connecticut’s monitoring season stretches from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Monitoring practices at coastal beaches are the responsibility of local health authorities (for municipal beaches)
and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) (for state park beaches), who are encouraged
to follow state guidelines that samples be taken in water that is 3–4 feet deep at a depth of 12–18 inches.2 Beaches
are assigned to tiers at the end of the bathing season. These tiers do not determine sampling frequency,1 are are assigned
instead on the basis of the sampling frequency reported by local
health departments and the CT DEP for their respective beaches
and the number of beach closing events for those beaches. Beaches Connecticut Percent Exceedance
for 48 Beaches Reported 2006–2009
that were sampled weekly and had no more than one closure event
6%
during the previ­ous swim season are assigned Tier 1 status, beaches 6.0
5% 5%
that were sampled weekly and had two or three closure events during
4% 4.5
the previous swim season are assigned Tier 2 status, and beaches
that were not sampled weekly or that had more than three closure 3.0
events during the previous swim season are assigned Tier 3 status.2
1.5
Sampling frequency and monitoring station locations are not
necessarily adjusted or changed when a beach’s tier status changes.1
2006 2007 2008 2009
When there are higher bather loads, state guidelines suggest
additional sampling, at culverts and drainage pipes after rains and
sewage spills or other pollution events, as well as when waterfowl congregate in the area or when sanitary survey information
indicates potential for non-point contamination after a rain event.2 At the four state park marine beaches monitored by the
CT DEP, resampling is done every day once a beach is closed.3 States that monitor more frequently after an exceedance is
found or after heavy rains will tend to have higher percent exceedance rates and lower total closing/advisory days than they
would have had if their sampling schedule were not altered after an exceedance was found or after heavy rainfall occurred.

Results: Although Connecticut’s 66 public coastal beaches were reported as monitored at least once a week in 2009,
the state’s level of BEACH Act funding allowed it to maintain and report laboratory results for 65 beaches. For the fifth
consecutive year, NRDC looked at the percent of monitoring samples that exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial
standards (all reported samples were used to calculate the 2009 percent exceedance values, including duplicate samples
and samples taken outside the official beach season, if any). In 2009, 5% of all reported beach monitoring samples
exceeded the state’s daily maximum bacterial standards.
The beaches with the highest percent exceedance in 2009 were Kiddie Beach in New London County (50%), Marvin
Beach in Fairfield County (17%), Eastern Point Beach in New London County (16%), Byram Beach in Fairfield County

*Why don’t the 2009 percent exceedances match? See Figure 4-1 in Chapter 4 of this report for an explanation.
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(15%), Green Harbor Beach in New London County (13%), Westbrook Town Beach/West Beach in Middlesex County
(13%), Calf Pasture Beach in Fairfield County (12%), and Jacobs Beach (Town Beach) in New Haven County (10%).
Dubois Beach in New London County had no monitoring data reported for 2009.
Middlesex County had the highest exceedance (9%) in 2009 followed by New London (8%), Fairfield (4%), and
New Haven (3%).
Comparing percent exceedance values with those of previous years, NRDC includes only those beaches monitored
and reported each year between 2006 and 2009. For this consistent set of 48 beaches, the percent of samples exceeding
the standard decreased to 4% in 2009 from 5% in 2008, 6% in 2007 and 5% in 2006.

Closings and Advisories

Standards and Procedures: Local jurisdictions determine how they will apply water quality standards. State guidelines
encourage local health departments and the CT DEP to apply the BEACH Act–required single-sample maximum
standard for marine and estuarine beaches for enterococcus of 104 cfu/100 ml when considering whether to close a
beach or issue an advisory. The state guidelines also encourage local health departments and the CT DEP to consider
the geometric mean of the last five samples collected in a 30-day period. If this geometric mean is greater than
35 cfu/100 ml, then the state suggests closing the beach. CT DPH encourages
beach managers to take into consideration the range or spread of the sample Connecticut
values that generate geometric mean results greater than 35 cfu/100 ml. Sources of Contamination
Connecticut’s understanding is that the national geometric mean standard is
based on epidemiology studies showing that both an exceedance of a geometric
mean of 35 cfu/100 ml and a log standard deviation less than 0.7 may result in
unacceptable illness rates.Some local health departments use either the single-
Stormwater 81%
sample maximum or the geometric mean to trigger closing and advisory decisions, Sewage 0%
while for other local health departments and the CT DEP, the single-sample Wildlife 0%
maximum triggers advisory and closing decisions, and exceed­ance of the Other 0%
Unknown 19%
geometric mean standard may trigger consideration of closings and advisories. 1

When routine samples exceed the state standards, the state recommends
that a resample be taken and a sanitary survey be conducted to determine if
raw or partially treated sewage is contributing to the elevated bacterial con­
centrations. If the survey reveals discharges of raw or partially treated sewage,
then the state recommends closing the bathing area. If sample results exceed the standards and a sanitary survey reveals
no evidence of sewage contamination, the state recommends that the bathing area be examined on an individual basis
with consultation from CT DPH before any decision about closure is made. A beach whose samples exceed the standards
may remain open if a sanitary survey reveals no sign of a sewage spill.2 Local authorities may adopt standards more
protective of public health than the state standards and may issue advisories. Most municipalities resample before issuing
an advisory and conduct a sanitary survey to determine if sewage is contributing to the elevated bacterial concentrations.
Some municipalities collect multiple samples at each monitoring event, and in most cases, if more than one sample
exceeds the standard, they will close the beach without resample.1
Local jurisdictions are also responsible for determining their own preemptive closing and advisory practices. State
guidance allows preemptive beach closings based on rainfall data2 and many municipalities have adopted a preemptive
rainfall threshold. When rainfall thresholds are reached at beaches with preemptive rainfall advisories, beaches are
automatically closed until test results indicate that there is no bacterial violation.1 State guidance says that preemptive
closures may be recommended by local jurisdictions if there is a known waste contamination event such as a sewage
bypass, mechanical failure at a sewage treatment plant, or a sewer line break.2 If the beach is impacted by a mass of
floating debris, the beach can be closed for safety reasons.2 In addition, local health departments may post an advisory
or closure that responds to local conditions and protects public health. Local health departments may also post an
advisory at a beach or close it if there is a harmful algal bloom.1
Shoreline municipalities are sensitive to reports of swimmer’s itch. Swimmer’s itch, also called cercarial dermatitis,
appears as a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain parasites that infect some birds and mammals. These

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microscopic parasites are released from infected snails into fresh and salt water (such as lakes, ponds, and oceans). While
the parasite’s preferred host is the specific bird or mammal, if the parasite comes into contact with a swimmer, it burrows
into the skin, causing an allergic reaction and rash. Swimmer’s itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent
during summer months. Connecticut beaches have been placed under advisory (sometimes lasting more than a week)
when one or more cases of swimmer’s itch are reported.1

Number of Closings and Advisories: Total closing/advisory days for 75 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less
decreased 20% to 108 days in 2009 from 135 days in 2008, 108 days in 2007, 224 days in 2006, and 200 days in
2005. In addition, there were no extended events and no permanent events in 2009 or 2008. Extended events are
those in effect more than 6 weeks but not more than 13 consecutive weeks; permanent events are in effect for more
than 13 con­secutive weeks.

Causes of Closings and Advisories: For the 75 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less, 26% (28) of closing/advisory
days in 2009 were due to monitoring that revealed elevated bacteria levels, and 74% (80) were preemptive (i.e., issued
without waiting for monitoring results) due to heavy rainfall.

Reported Sources of Beachwater Contamination: 81% (88) of closing/advisory days were from stormwater runoff,
and 19% (20) were from unknown sources of contamination.

Connecticut 2009 Monitoring Results and Closing or Advisory Days

% of Samples Closing or
Monitoring Total
County Beach Tier Exceeding Advisory
Frequency Samples
State Standards Days
Fairfield Bell Island Beach 1 1/wk 32 0% 2
Fairfield Burying Hill Beach 1 1/wk 14 0% 0
Fairfield Byram Beach 3 1/wk 61 15% 20
Fairfield Calf Pasture Beach 2 1/wk 51 12% 7
Fairfield Compo Beach 1 1/wk 60 7% 2
Fairfield Cummings Beach 3 1/wk 49 0% 5
Fairfield East (Cove Island) Beach 3 1/wk 49 0% 5
Fairfield Great Captain’s Island Beach 1 1/wk 30 0% 1
Fairfield Greenwich Point Beach 3 1/wk 52 0% 4
Fairfield Hickory Bluff Beach 1 1/wk 17 6% 2
Fairfield Island Beach 1 1/wk 31 0% 1
Fairfield Jennings Beach 1 1/wk 34 3% 1
Fairfield Long Beach (Marnick’s) 2 1/wk 17 6% 2
Fairfield Long Beach (Proper) 2 1/wk 32 0% 2
Fairfield Marvin Beach 1 1/wk 18 17% 2
Fairfield Pear Tree Point Beach 2 1/wk 54 7% 3
Fairfield Penfield Beach 1 1/wk 31 0% 1
Fairfield Quigley Beach 3 1/wk 16 0% 5
Fairfield Rowayton Beach 1 1/wk 17 6% 2
Fairfield Sasco Beach 1 1/wk 35 6% 1
Fairfield Seaside Park Beach 1 1/wk 70 0% 0
Fairfield Shady Beach 2 1/wk 68 6% 7
Fairfield Sherwood Island State Park Beach 1 1/wk 66 3% 0

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 % of Samples Closing or
Monitoring Total
County Beach Tier Exceeding Advisory
Frequency Samples
State Standards Days
Fairfield Short Beach 2 1/wk 48 2% 2
Fairfield South Pine Creek Beach 1 1/wk 17 6% 1
Fairfield Southport Beach 1 1/wk 33 0% 1
Fairfield Weed Beach 2 1/wk 33 6% 3
Fairfield West Beach 3 1/wk 50 6% 5
Middlesex Harvey’s Beach 2 1/wk 14 7% 4
Middlesex Middle Beach/Stannard Beach 1 1/wk 14 7% 0
Middlesex Town Beach (Clinton) 2 1/wk 12 8% 9
Middlesex Town Beach (Old Saybrook) 1 1/wk 16 6% 2
Middlesex Westbrook Town Beach/West Beach 1 1/wk 39 13% 0
New Haven Anchor Beach (Merwin Point) #1 1 1/wk 17 6% 0
New Haven Anchor Beach (Merwin Point) #2 1 1/wk 17 6% 0
New Haven Branford Point Beach 1 1/wk 14 0% 0
New Haven Clark Avenue Beach 1 1/wk 9 0% 0
New Haven East Haven Town Beach 1 1/wk 27 4% 0
New Haven East Wharf Beach 1 1/wk 13 0% 0
New Haven Gulf Beach 1 1/wk 15 0% 0
New Haven Hammonasset Beach State Park 1 1/wk 92 0% 0
New Haven Jacobs Beach (Town Beach) 2 1/wk 50 10% 4
New Haven Lighthouse Point Beach 1 1/wk 3 0% 0
New Haven Pent Road Beach 1 1/wk 15 0% 0
New Haven Silver Sands State Park Beach 1 1/wk 83 8% 2
New Haven Stony Creek Beach 1 1/wk 13 8% 0
New Haven Surf Club Beach 1 1/wk 26 0% 0
New Haven Walnut Beach 1 1/wk 35 0% 0
New Haven West Haven East Beach 1 1/wk 188 2% 0
New Haven West Haven West Beach 1 1/wk 97 4% 0
New Haven West Wharf Beach 1 1/wk 13 0% 0
New Haven Woodmont Beach 1 1/wk 18 0% 0
New London Dubois Beach 3 None 0 NA 0
New London Eastern Point Beach 1 1/wk 31 16% 0
New London Esker Point Beach 1 1/wk 14 0% 0
New London Green Harbor Beach 1 1/wk 30 13% 0
New London Hole-in-the-Wall Beach 1 1/wk 17 6% 0
New London Kiddie Beach 1 1/wk 22 50% 0
New London McCook Point Beach 1 1/wk 16 0% 0
New London Noank Dock 1 1/wk 14 0% 0
New London Ocean Beach Park 1 1/wk 43 5% 0
New London Pleasure Beach 1 1/wk 14 0% 0
New London Rocky Neck State Park Beach 1 1/wk 64 5% 0
New London Soundview Beach 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

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 % of Samples Closing or
Monitoring Total
County Beach Tier Exceeding Advisory
Frequency Samples
State Standards Days
New London Waterford Town Beach 1 1/wk 43 2% 0
New London White Sands Beach 1 1/wk 17 0% 0

Notes
1 Jon Dinneen, Connecticut Department of Public Health, personal communication, May 2010.
2 Connecticut Department of Public Health. Connecticut’s 2009 Annual Report for the US EPA BEACH Grant With Summary Data for 2003–2009.
January 10, 2010.
3 Connecticut Dept. of Public Health and Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection, Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for
Indicator Bacteria Monitoring at Public Bathing Beaches, available at http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/quality_assurance/qaap_water/qapp_indbac.pdf,
February 2003.

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