Goose Rocks Main Beach Water Quality Test Results

Water Quality Testing and Maine Healthy Beaches

Since 2004, the Town of Kennebunkport has voluntarily participated in the Maine Healthy Beaches Program. Many Maine communities participate in this federally funded program to ensure that swim beaches across coastal Maine are monitored for bacteria that could potentially cause illness and the public notified when water quality may not be safe. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Kennebunkport Public Health staff and volunteers conduct weekly testing at two locations on Goose Rocks Beach (GR-2 and GR-4) and one location at Colony Beach. The Town also conducts testing at the mouth of the Batson and Little Rivers, but not as part of the Maine Healthy Beaches program.

The MHB program supports monitoring of the fecal indicator bacteria Enterococcus at coastal beaches. This type of bacteria is associated with the fecal material of humans and other warm-blooded animals. The US EPA recommends using this bacteria to indicate the possible presence of unsafe pathogens in the water because there are too many pathogens to test for individually. While unlikely to cause illnesses themselves, the presence of these bacteria in the water suggests that other pathogens that could pose a health risk may be present as well. It is important to the Town of Kennebunkport to provide this information to allow people to make informed decisions.

Fore more detailed information regarding water quality monitoring efforts in the Goose Rocks Beach Watershed view A Tale of Tide and Turf

Unique Challenges Presented at Goose Rocks Beach

Managing water quality at Goose Rocks Beach is more challenging than most open water beaches in Maine because of two tidal rivers that bookend the beach. The brackish waters of tidal rivers can naturally carry higher levels of bacteria. A recent analysis of nineteen seasons of data from Goose Rocks Beach shows that the Batson and Little River testing sites experience more elevated bacteria levels (especially at low tide), while the main swimming beach does not. Heavy rainfall and strong tides can also increase the chance for high bacteria levels. After a heavy rainfall, the Maine Healthy Beaches program recommends that swimmers avoid water contact for at least 24 hours. Following elevated bacteria results, the Maine Healthy Beaches program recommends that swimmers avoid those specific areas until water quality results are below the safety threshold (104 MPN/100ml).

Advisories

When beach advisories are put in effect for Goose Rocks Beach (Main Beach – Sites GR-2 and GR-4 only), the information will be posted to the municipality’s website; the Maine Healthy Beaches website; eNews subscribers will receive an email alert; and on beach side signage. Weekly, all results will be posted here for those who wish to see a comprehensive look at the test results.