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July 28, 2010

Pollution up last year at Maine beaches

By Beth Quimby bquimby@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Beach closings and health advisories due to pollution rose by 47 percent last year along the Maine coast, according to the Natural Resource Defense Council’s 20th annual beach water quality report.

Related Documents

A PDF of data for Maine beaches

The report concluded the most polluted beaches in the state were Goodies Beach in Knox County, Ducktrap River in Waldo County and Ogunquit Beach in York County. The report notes that rainfall last summer was much higher than average. Rainwater is a source of pollution as it washes over land picking up pollutants.

Eleven percent of beach water samples in Maine last year violated health standards, according to the report.

The other 10 beaches with the worst water quality last year include Cape  Neddick Beach, York Harbor Beach, Gooches Beach, Libby Cove Beach, Middle Beach and Sea Point Beach in York County and Willard Beach in Cumberland County.

The report was based on water quality data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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