CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — While it could be seen as a part of routine beach maintenance, recent water sampling has found medium-levels of fecal bacteria in Coastal Bend beaches.
Tommy Shilts with the Surfrider Foundation said that after Tropical Storm Alberto, water samples collected from two out of three locations showed medium levels of enterococci bacteria, which is commonly found in fecal matter.
According to data from the Blue Water Task Force, medium level bacteria was found at Padre Balli Beach and the north JP Luby Surf Park location. The JP Luby south location was shown to have low bacteria levels.
"Lets us know what's in the run-off. There's fecal matter, pesticides a lot of things that can come down stream," Shilts said when discussing the benefits of regular water testing.
A study from Environment America found 90 percent of Texas beaches had at least one day of unsafe fecal contamination.
Shilts said that the foundation does regular testing to stay on top of the game.
"Have a couple of tools we use to test for salinity, PH and turbidity, being the clarity of the water," he said.
Harte Research Institute Director of Community Engagement Jace Tunnel said that for those who do visit, beach safety should always be top of mind, but especially after a big weather event.
"Bacteria levels will go up for three to five days, so if there's a lot of rain we ask people not to get in the water," Tunnel said.
Shilts said that when it comes to Hurricane Beryl, though impacts from the storm to the Coastal Bend were minimal, they're still going to be taking samples.
"[We] do it every Thursday, do it at all three sites and our results come out on Friday," he said.