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October 28, 2003 Technical contacts: Lynn Munroe, Oregon Department of Human Services, (503) 731-3462 Larry Caton, Department of Environmental Quality (503) 229-5983 ext. 268 Water Quality Test Results at Twin Rocks Beach return to safe levels Public health officials in the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) have lifted an advisory issued last week concerning fecal contamination at Twin Rocks Beach in Tillamook County. "Recent test results show the water at this beach is safe for swimming and playing," said Gail Shibley, administrator of Public Health Systems in DHS. Since the advisory was issued, the beach has been retested twice. The first results showed water quality levels that were below the EPA's ambient water quality level for safe human exposure, but because DHS has to satisfy two standards under the Beach Grant, the advisory could not be lifted until a second test result was also below the threshold. "We will continue to monitor this location, along with 51 others, to ensure the health of Oregonians is protected," Shibley said. "And, we will advise the public if this or any other beach shows high levels of fecal contamination." Testing is performed under the federally funded Beach Monitoring Program. Oregon received a grant to monitor beaches for fecal contamination in 2001, and works with the Department of Environmental Quality to periodically test waters at selected beaches. Additional information on the state's beach program, including data for all 52 sites monitored since May 2003, is available on the Web. |
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