Bermuda beach warning

[njhorseman]

Thank you,

 

So far so good !

 

Looking at those numbers, I would not hesitate one second to jump in the water :D

 

The only number that matters is the number on the day you're at the beach. Testing the water twice only twice per week doesn't provide me with a lot of comfort.

[Charles4515]

Thank you,

 

So far so good !

 

Looking at those numbers, I would not hesitate one second to jump in the water :D

 

They don't give the numbers like I have seen in other reports. Now it just says the samples met EPA criteria. Nothing about CDC criteria. And the reports are 24 hours after. So I would hesitate to jump in the water. I will be there next week and I will hesitate. I might not even go into the water.

Edited June 2, 2014 by Charles4515

[Charles4515]

The only number that matters is the number on the day you're at the beach. Testing the water twice only twice per week doesn't provide me with a lot of comfort.

 

I won't be comforted until they do something about sewage treatment!

Edited June 2, 2014 by Charles4515

[sebas030]

They don't give the numbers like I have seen in other reports. Now it just says the samples met EPA criteria. Nothing about CDC criteria. And the reports are 24 hours after. So I would hesitate to jump in the water. I will be there next week and I will hesitate. I might not even go into the water.

 

If you clic on the link at the bottom of the page "May 2014 data" then you have all the numbers.

[Charles4515]

If you clic on the link at the bottom of the page "May 2014 data" then you have all the numbers.

 

Thank you. That is what I wanted to see.

[sebas030]

I don't think I have ever been to a beach that was tested more then 2 times per week. All, but a couple, results since the beginning of the testings were above the standard and since all were under the guideline of "Less than 10% samples should be >130 cfu/100ml"...I am not worried.

 

Here food inspectors go to visit restaurant every 4 years if no complains are filed... so I use my judgement to decide to eat or not in a restaurant based on smell, cleanliness, presence of flies, the cleanliness of the bathroom, etc... now I have an agency that tells me they monitor the water I will swim in, 2 times per week, should I doubt the results ?

[njhorseman]

I don't think I have ever been to a beach that was tested more then 2 times per week. All, but a couple, results since the beginning of the testings were above the standard and since all were under the guideline of "Less than 10% samples should be >130 cfu/100ml"...I am not worried.

 

Here food inspectors go to visit restaurant every 4 years if no complains are filed... so I use my judgement to decide to eat or not in a restaurant based on smell, cleanliness, presence of flies, the cleanliness of the bathroom, etc... now I have an agency that tells me they monitor the water I will swim in, 2 times per week, should I doubt the results ?

 

I wouldn't eat in a restaurant that had multiple recent health inspection violations. Bermuda's beaches have more than once recent instance of "grease balls" washing up onto the sand.

 

 

 

Just because it hasn't happened in the past couple of weeks doesn't mean it won't happen the next time there's a strong easterly wind that will move pollutants on shore.

 

In a place with proper sewage treatment plants it's probably unnecessary to do daily testing, but until Bermuda builds proper sewage treatment plants (which will be years at best, and possibly never) the least they could do is ramp up the testing frequency during the swimming (tourist) season.

Edited June 2, 2014 by njhorseman

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

That is not good ...

[Charles4515]

Here food inspectors go to visit restaurant every 4 years if no complains are filed... so I use my judgement to decide to eat or not in a restaurant based on smell, cleanliness, presence of flies, the cleanliness of the bathroom, etc... now I have an agency that tells me they monitor the water I will swim in, 2 times per week, should I doubt the results ?

 

Four years is too long between food inspections. If that is true I would not be comfortable eating in a restaurant in Montreal. New York State does annual unannounced inspections. Here in Maryland at least two times a year.

 

Since raw sewage is being dumped into the ocean and has been known to pollute the beaches at times I think the monitoring should be done daily.

[Jruns]

Wholeheartedly agree!! Maybe if their tourist revenue declines they will do something!! We were ready to book until I saw the "greaseballs and the us consulate warning!! We are now going to alaska - talk about switching gears.... But it's done and so are flights and excursions!! I could have never swam in that water!!

 

 

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[carrie13]

Just got back from Bermuda - went to Horseshoe Bay - no obvious signs of contaminated water. I swam in it along with hundreds of other people on Monday June 2nd. There were no warnings posted and nothing mentioned on the ship regarding water quality...

[meatball_nyc]

Thanks so much for coming back and posting your info.

Hoping you had a great cruise!

 

 

Robin

Norwegian Breakaway July 2014

Carnival Miracle 2010

Carnival Legend 2006

Every Day at Sea is a Great Day

[emeraldlover1]

Just got back from Bermuda - went to Horseshoe Bay - no obvious signs of contaminated water. I swam in it along with hundreds of other people on Monday June 2nd. There were no warnings posted and nothing mentioned on the ship regarding water quality...

 

 

I was there that day too swimming along with everyone else in the beautiful, crystal clear water. It was wonderful and we had a great cruise on the NCL Dawn.

 

 

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[njhorseman]

The latest report indicates the beaches continue to meet US standards:

 

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140607/NEWS07/140609781

[NJ Johnny]

The latest report indicates the beaches continue to meet US standards:

 

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140607/NEWS07/140609781

 

Thank you for the update. I'm not totally reassured because they still are only testing twice a week.

[espo56]

Just got back today. Went to Horseshoe on June 4 and 5. Water was gorgeous and clean. No signs or warnings. Lots swimming both days including me. :)

[meatball_nyc]

Thanks for the report. Keeping my fingers crossed for our trip.

 

 

 

Robin

Norwegian Breakaway July 2014

Carnival Miracle 2010

Carnival Legend 2006

Every Day at Sea is a Great Day

[conandrob240]

We swam all over the beaches on our May 25th cruise. I will say, though, I actually think I saw one of the "plugs". I was in the water at Horseshoe at the beach behind the rocks all the way to the left and saw what I thought was a stick or piece of wood. I got closer and saw it was not wood or anything that belongs in the ocean. Looked sort of like a cork- shaped hair ball. Gross. I got out of the water there but went in the water again rest of our days there. Not sure but I assumed that's what the object was.

[seeing this world]

I live on the shores of Lake Erie, our water samples that are taken today and if there is a problem it is posted three days later, which makes no sense. The problem could resolve itself by then and you have people swimming in that water for three days. I have seen beautiful crystal clear water and the beaches be closed down . So crystal clear water does not tell you a thing if is dangerous or not . It all depends on water current and wind. We can have one beach posted but yet the next beach 1/2 mile away is open.

 

There are cities all along the Canadian and American shore lines that dump into the oceans on both coast. You have sewage plants that overflow into the great lakes and rivers when it rains. You have farms close to shores and the animal feces goes into the water table. If anyone that lives near the ocean, lake or river ask you government for the overflow reports in the USA or Canada. You will be amazed how many times raw sewage is dumped. A simple sewage plant is not all the answer.

 

Remember you grandparents outhouses , where do you think that waste went, once the hole was filled and they moved it to another location.

[sebas030]

Well....I hate to report it but there it is :

 

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140702/NEWS/140709918?utm_content=buffer995e7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[NJ Johnny]

Well....I hate to report it but there it is :

 

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140702/NEWS/140709918?utm_content=buffer995e7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

Very bad news!

[FIRELT5]

The prevailing weather conditions again. Hopefully the Govt. Of Bermuda will build a new state of the art Sewage treatment plant within the next 5yrs. ????

[Pomperaugrr]

Wow. I was at Horseshoe Bay and the adjacent coves on June 28. There was no sign of anything washing up, and we were there very early. I hope they can get this resolved soon, for tourism, residents and the environment.

 

Eric

[jdapowers]

http://www.health.gov.bm/portal/server.pt

 

Here is the link to the most up to date info

Click under further information to get the detailed reports

[old bag]

Does anyone know whether there is any sewage discharged in the area near the Vixen, Daniel's Head, Mangrove Bay and Somerset Long Bay? I have done snorkeling excursions in these areas before and wondering if this might be a better, safer option.

 

Ahoy, Allentown!

I hope you have been enjoying Musikfest and the Awkscht fescht this weekend!

 

Unfortunately, I cannot locate the map I found from a research study (about 6 years or so ago) regarding the impact of the raw sewage on biohazards to the residents and visitors of Bermuda.

 

However, I recall the following (with a level of accuracy for which I am comfortable in stating here).

 

(1) The bulk of the sewage pipes are near the Royal Naval Dockyard. I recall 4 on the North side and 4 on the South Side of the peninsula.

My family's conclusion: We do not go to Snorkel Park.

 

(2) There was a private pipe from a hotel that is no longer in existence that deposited raw sewage off of Horseshoe Bay. There is nothing in that place, so I have no reason to believe the pipe is in use.

 

(3) There are two pipes up by Tobacco Bay, and in fact, it is my understanding that they were the first beach to report problems, more than 10 years ago, which was the first time my family went to Bermuda. One of those pipes dumps a huge amount of sewage into the ocean. And even though we were docked in St. George, and Tobacco Bay was the easiest beach to get to (and my children were really young at this point), we have not nor will we be swimming at that Beach.

 

(4) There are another 4 pipes near St. George (on the South East of St. George/St. John) thus having us avoid those beaches.

 

(5) Finally, there are two pipes, one very major, off of the coast of Elbow Beach which has attracted the attention that has generated these concerns.

 

Now this next part, is just my interpretation of the situation and where I go with my family.

 

Church Bay is our favorite, and it is very far from any pipes.

We have gone to Jobson's Cove and another beach near it (on the western side of Warwick Beach), for swimming and snorkeling. We walk on Horseshoe and Warwick, though we have never seen "tar balls."

 

This year, we are also going to West Whale Bay and St. John Smith Bay, as my children are interested in going to "new beaches" and these are the ones I have determined should be far enough away from the sewage pipes.

 

If I find the map of the pipes, I will post it so people can see it for themselves.