BHE314 - Environmental Health and Safety

Module 4 - SLP

Housing and Institutions; Recreational Areas and Bathing Facilities; Disaster Sanitation

It is not uncommon for sewage and urban runoff to reach the coastline in crowded urban areas. To protect the health of swimmers from fecal contamination at beaches, public health officials routinely monitor the coastal waters for indicator organisms (bacteria), such as fecal Coliform and Enterococcus. These organisms are naturally found in the intestines of warm blooded organisms, and so when they are detected in beach water it means that there is probably fecal contamination. While the indicators used to monitor beaches are bacteria, the actual disease causing organisms (called "pathogens") are often viruses or even parasites.

In this assignment, you are an environmental health inspector charged with the responsibility to sample beach water, after a storm, to inform the public, and particularly surfers. Also, you will need to make decisions about whether to close the beach or not. Write a 2-3 page paper in which you do the following:

1. Describe the types of illnesses that can be caused by contaminated recreational beach waters.

2. Identify the challenges in monitoring and managing beach waters to protect the public, and particularly surfers, in a timely manner (hint: discuss the timeliness of water test results).

3. Describe the sources of beach water contamination and how it may be prevented.

Justify your opinion with evidence from the literature.

Assignment Expectations:

Use information from the modular background readings as well as any good quality resource you can find.

LENGTH: 2-3 pages typed and double-spaced, in addition to a

cover page.

The following items will be assessed in particular:

Precision: The question of the assignment is specifically addressed in the paper. Illnesses that can be caused by contaminated recreational beach waters are described. The paper presents the challenges in monitoring and managing beach waters to protect the public in a timely manner. The paper described different sources of beach water contamination and how it may be prevented.

Clarity: The paper reads clearly. It is well structured and grammatically correct.

Breadth: The paper presents appropriate breadth covering the questions of the assignment. Many beach-water-related illnesses are described. The paper describes different source of beach water contamination and different preventive measures.

Depth: The paper describes in depth the concepts presented and the concepts are well supported by findings or examples from the literature. In particular, the paper describes adequaltely the challenges in monitoring and managing beach waters to protect the public in a timely manner.

Application: The paper shows your ability to apply the knowledge of recreational water illnesses, water pollution and beach water monitoring to understanding the challenges of keeping recreational beach waters safe for swimmers.

References: At least, two in-text citations are provided as well as a reference list is provided at the end of your paper (APA formatting is not required but is highly recommended).