US Consulate Advisory: ‘Contaminated Beaches’
[Updated w/response from Tourism CEO] The U.S. Consulate in Bermuda has just issued a “Security Message” for U.S. Citizens entitled “contaminated beaches,” citing the “ongoing dumping of raw sewage off Bermuda’s south coast.”
The U.S. Consulate said, “Changing weather conditions – wind, swells, tides, and rain – can bring rapid degradation of water quality along the beaches, resulting in human bacteria levels from fecal contamination up to four times the acceptable U.S. standard.
“In 2013, as many as five of the beaches were described as ‘unfit for recreational use’ on different occasions based on water samples.
“According to the study, possible negative health effects for swimmers include gastroenteritis, ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and staph infections. In addition, as a general medical matter, persons exposed to sewage-contaminated water face increased risk of Hepatitis A, eye infections, and typhoid.”
The security message continued on to say that the “Government of Bermuda has announced that it plans to take measures to reduce or treat the outfall, but as of March 2014, the dumping continues unabated.”
The email sent by the U.S. Consulate is below:
The U.S. Consulate General in Hamilton, Bermuda, informs U.S. citizens of a public concern regarding the contamination of beaches.
A scientific study conducted in 2013 by the University of Laval, the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, the Bermuda Departments of Conservation, Health, and Environment, and the Bermuda Central Government Laboratory reports that ongoing dumping of raw sewage off Bermuda’s south coast causes intermittent contamination of the waters along the island’s south shore beaches, creating a public health hazard.
Changing weather conditions – wind, swells, tides, and rain – can bring rapid degradation of water quality along the beaches, resulting in human bacteria levels from fecal contamination up to four times the acceptable U.S. standard. In 2013, as many as five of the beaches were described as “unfit for recreational use” on different occasions based on water samples.
According to the study, possible negative health effects for swimmers include gastroenteritis, ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and staph infections. In addition, as a general medical matter, persons exposed to sewage-contaminated water face increased risk of Hepatitis A, eye infections, and typhoid.
Those who intend to enter the waters along the south shore may wish to consider Hepatitis A and typhoid immunizations prior to doing so. The Government of Bermuda has announced that it plans to take measures to reduce or treat the outfall, but as of March 2014, the dumping continues unabated.
To obtain Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel notices, call the CDC at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) from within the United States, or 1-404-639-3534 from overseas, or visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Bermuda enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.Travel.State.Gov. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Regularly monitor the State Department’s website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Bermuda. For additional information, refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” on the State Department’s website.
We have sought a response from the Environment Ministry and the Bermuda Tourism Authority and will update as able.
Update 2.58pm: Well known tourism activist Tony Brannon has contacted the Bermuda Tourism Authority and other relevant bodies to express his concerns over this warning.
Mr. Brannon said, “This sort of thing could provoke massive cancellations in hotel bookings if this get hyped in the U.S. media – well the fact this has been released by the U.S. Consulate will surely get mega press attention anyway.
“Perhaps this security message from the U.S. Consulate will shake the Bermuda Government into action, but it should never have come to this. Raw sewage emptying into our sea environment is outrageous.
“There better be a sense of urgency attached to this matter by the Bermuda Government. I have emailed Government people, Hoteliers, Tourism Board members and the TA,” added Mr. Brannon.
Update 4.55pm: In response, the Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO Bill Hanbury said, “The National Tourism Plan added the marine environment as a major hub for Bermuda tourism. This was a natural choice.
“While Bermuda’s land mass may be small, its surrounding marine environment is many times larger and stands-up along side the finest international destination. It is a ‘national treasure’ and one that offers significant opportunity for the growth of our tourism economy.
“Because of this, we can only say that any pollution in our marine environment, or on our shores, is simply unacceptable.
“We understand the dilemma Government faces and the enormous competition for limited financial resources. We also understand that the needed long-term fix, the creation of treatment facilities that mitigates potentially dangerous pollution, must be somewhat down the road.
“But, we must look for and find immediate solutions that ensure there is simply no pollution that our visitors can come into contact with. There can be no equivocation on this matter.
“Bermuda has an iconic reputation for excellence that can be tarnished in a heartbeat. The latest U.S. Consulate advisory regarding this issue could be potentially damaging as we ramp up for the upcoming tourist season.
“The details of an advisory like this will not remain confined to U.S. citizens but could reach a global audience. The BTA is encouraged that Government has assured progress will be made towards improving water quality in our marine environment and on our beaches.
“The BTA remains hopeful that the aspiration to permanently fix this issue is already under development within a long-term plan. Bermuda is attempting to reposition itself as one of the world’s pre-eminent tourism destinations.
“This aspiration does not mix well with the lack of water quality on our beaches. BTA is more than willing to be part of the solution if there is any way we may assist.”
Update 7.04pm: The Ministry of Health & Environment has responded, which can be found here.
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Articles that link to this one:
- Health Ministry: Beaches Are Safe For Swimming | Bernews.com | March 31, 2014
- Video: Minister On Beaches, Water Samples | Bernews.com | April 2, 2014
- Hanbury: ‘Could Potentially Damage Economy’ | Bernews.com | April 12, 2014
- Photos: Small Lumps Wash Up At Grape Bay | Bernews.com | April 15, 2014
- PLP: “OBA Has Failed To Address The Issue” | Bernews.com | April 15, 2014
- OBA, PLP Trade Words On Sewage, Propaganda | Bernews.com | April 16, 2014
- Kim Swan: ‘Need To Move Quickly & Proactively’ | Bernews.com | April 21, 2014
- Greenrock: Let’s Work Together & Do Right Thing | Bernews.com | April 22, 2014
- Health Dept: Proper Grease Removal Methods | Bernews.com | April 25, 2014
- Govt. Continues To Monitor Seawater Quality | Bernews.com | June 7, 2014
Interesting that they did such, considering most of the coastal waters off of the US are beyond filthy. Was in Miami a few weeks back and the beach we went to smelled like raw sewage and there were exposed syringes in the sand. I was terrified to go swimming – go in that water and you might come out glowing and with a third eye….
Another PLP ploy.
Print this.
I am not a fan of the plp, but really, comments like this are just to start trouble. This issue has been going on for many many years
Ding ding ding. Eeeeexactly.
Yup, since UBP days to be exact.
Love the ‘dislikes’.
Truth is a bitch.
This is a national problem that requires an apolitical and speedy Bermudian response.
Hopefully the US Counsel will dedicate similar efforts alerting Americans to the environmental disaster left behind following their decades long inhabitation of the former base lands and dedicate sufficient economic and political will towards remediation of their very own man made pollution.
If there are no dead fish floating then its safe.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
That’s great news for tourism
awesome… I hope that an appropriate amount of notice was given to gov’t before releasing this statement.
I wonder just how many cases of Hepatitis A and typhoid have been diagnosed in Bermuda & if any how many have been linked to exposure to our coastal waters? I suspect NONE… However with that said, I do believe it’s time that sewage treatment plants become the standard for such applications that see waste being dumped into our waters…
Now Bermudians knows, just in case you go swimming..
that cough and bad stomach … was not something bad you ate..
Why was this allowed in the first place?well there goes our efforts to bring in tourists…
What do you mean “why was this ALLOWED”? Allowed? The US govt doesn’t need anyone’s permission to post warnings for the safety of their citizens. I applaud any govt that has the health and safety of their citizens in mind. The truth hurts. We ARE IN FACT dumping raw sewage into the ocean and it is washing up on the beaches. It is the truth. It’s not as if the US Consolate made up a horrible lie. It’s the truth.
I’m pretty sure she was talking about allowing sewage to be dumped so close to the beaches, not the US gov’t reporting on it.
Its also true that the US armed forces pumped raw sewage into a cave at Morgan’s point along with who knows what else – they also left an unknown amount of jet fuel in the ground right next to one of if not the largest fresh water lens Bermuda has – I don’t see the US counsel getting to excited about that though. Perhaps if they cleaned up the mess they left then Bermuda Might be able to spend the money on a sewage treatment plant instead of the Morgan’s point clean up.
infrastructure upgrades have been ignored for decades….no political blame game here, just fix it.
Not sure if this is OBA’s fault, or PLP, or UBP, or Axpats, or racism, or the Pork n cheese. I’m sure someone will get race into it tho.
It’s everyone’s s**t. We all made the mess, we need to ensure the authorities sort the mess. Rather than blame everyone else ask your leaders, past and present to account for the position. Politically this is significant and suggests the US Consul, who will appreciate the MASSIVE negative impact of this, has an issue with Bermuda. Or they’ve botched it. Yes, they have a duty to advise their citizens, but they are also a diplomatic mission so could have dealt with things differently. That is what makes this odd. Always considered our beaches dirty (tampons, human waste, glass etc.) compared to the competition but it never occured to me that the sea was so contaminated. Sad day for Bermuda. Better get some Blue Flag advice and stop sh**ing in your backyard.
and there goes any hope of revitalising tourism in the near future
@ Still Laughing….
The pollution in the worlds oceans in general is beyond troubling. The eddy of garbage floating in the Pacific Ocean is bigger than the state of Texas.
That said: dumping raw sewage into our Bermuda waters is simply unacceptable. As another poster above (“Swing Voter”) has said – JUST FIX IT. I understand the Government Minister responsible is Trevor Moniz. This needs addressing urgently so that the US CONSULATE can hopefully issue an update that says the beaches on the South Shore are indeed safe to swim in. The Tourist season will soon be here.
If I could “double like” Mr. Brannon’s response, I would.
Statements similar to, “The U.S. has dirty beaches too” resembles a Circular Argument; the purpose of the announcement from the U.S. Consulate was not to shake a “big index finger at Bermuda in shame”.
The U.S. Consulate has a responsibility to point out harmful situations such as contaminated beaches. Thankfully, this announcement has been made public; now, not only are U.S. tourists aware but also Bermudians + Ex-Pats. Last I checked, ALL can be exposed to Typhoid, Hepatitis A, etc., no?
As Mr. Brannon has pointed out, the tourist season will be here soon however, we should work together all 365 days of the year to ensure that situations such as this do not occur.
I wondered why those bream and chubs had a distinct taste on the southern side. Now I know.
I’m assuming the US Consul raised this issue with the government etc. and have allowed them an opportunity to respond/remedy the problem. This is like a declaration of war in terms of impact on tourism. It is a shocking report and needs to be out there, plus the public need to know where they can get daily tests on waters.
Certainly explains the ear and tummy infections our kids have had since arriving.
Come on Bermuda you can do better.
And tourists season begins soon what a shame.
That’s some hater s***. How America going kick Bermuda in the b@lls like that.
Hmph … oh really … a security message to US Citizens … what about a security message to all persons in Bermuda…. Period!!! Guess Bermudians dont matter. Smh
There was an article in the paper last week informing us, where were you?
The US Consulate has no responsibility to warn Bermudians.
You are correct. The responsibility to protect Bermudians lies with the government of Bermuda, which apparently has done nothing.
Anyone can sign up for their Warden Messages.
The most concerning part of the UNITED STATES CONSULATE WARNING is this:
“The Government of Bermuda has announced that it plans to take measures to reduce or treat the outfall, but as of March 2014, the dumping continues unabated”.
“UNABATED” is NOT ACCEPTABLE BERMUDA
Bingo!
Can’t get us over the tax evaders. So they hit us with this. A lot of the pollution also comes from the ships that leave USA and dump there sewage in the ocean. It’s not going to deter tourist. Once they r here Bermudians will set the record straight. American Consulate clean up your back yard first. Stop butting in everyone else’s business!!!!
Whatever anyone thinks about this issue……WHO here wants crap dumped into our sea next to our beaches ? If that is acceptable to any of you, then more’s the pity.
You said nothing for 40 years Tony.
Why now.
It appears to be a common theme amongst the comments of finger pointing & crying political or racial fowl all the time.
With everything from environmental issues to sports! Some of you really need to get your heads out of your behinds & focus on the issues at hand instead of egomaniacal subjective pseudo truths.
Whether pollution & health problems in Bermuda’s waters are the result of illegal dumping, offshore dumping, or any of the other myriad of possibilities – it’s a problem.
It doesn’t matter what political party you support – what on earth does that have to do with the blatant truth that there IS pollution Here, and yes, EVERYWHERE in the world. How about we all focus on ways we can all help whether instead of being backseat driver type commenters all the time.
Bingo!
Well said and perhaps many should stop demonizing environmentalists and listen so we can solve problems to keep Bermuda healthy and thriving for future generations.
Sadly, I think that people in the future will look at the things going on right now, including the kind of short-sighted comments found on this thread and wonder, with the perspective of their remove from it, why Bermudians of this time had ANY expectation of attracting tourist to this wonderful and singular place. What a sad commentary.
Whilst Politics may indeed be polluted – the issue of Pollution should not be political.
Every human being’s health is at stake here. We need to stop dumping shit into the ocean. That is it STOP DUMPING. This surely needs to be addressed and every right thinking person should demand that this stops. It’s the OBA’s watch now, so FIX IT…… No need for political sabre rattling over “CRAP”.
Where do you propose to put it?
I used to live somewhere with polluted beaches, typically from sewer plant overflows and rains washing bird sh*t into the waters. But the difference there is that those beaches were tested daily and shut if the e.coli reached unacceptable levels. Bermuda neither tests daily nor seems to care much. I hope the Consulate’s Warden Message prods government into finally taking action. It will be expensive and nobody will win any votes for doing it, but it has to be done. Too bad they’re distracted by dealing with childish stuff like a national strike over a fired bar porter.
And the Blue Flag accreditation is also a good guide. Not normally required of remote, Caribbean type paradises because, well they wouldn’t s**t on their main tourist resort right?!
Each year, the Natural Resources Defense Council puts out a handy guide on water quality at ocean and Great Lake beaches around the US. The beaches where a quarter of the samples taken last year found levels of contamination above national standards:
■Avalon Beach and Doheny State Beach in California
■Winnetka Elder Park Beach and North Point Marina North Beach in Illinois
■Constance Beach, Gulf Breeze, Little Florida, Long Beach, and Rutherford Beach in Louisiana
■Beachwood Beach West in New Jersey
■Woodlawn Beach and Ontario Beach in New York
Well lets start drilling. Screw it. You kno thats coming next. All we have is our land and they wana ruin it. With w.e has led to these circumstances..my damn generation aint got jobs, aint got no say, dont have beachs that are safe know. Forget what young people are doing. What are these old geezers doing accept ruining life. .
What is your point? Bermuda is using the ocean as a toilet. End.
Where’s Stuart when you need him ? We were taught to swim only when the tides going out . Well here is another opportunity for our Premier to face the nation ; but will he ?
Oh the tides going out….
The response from the CEO of the Tourism Authority is heartening. It is so important that Bermuda keeps this awesome island and its surrounding waters in a pristine and healthy manner. The warning by the UNITED STATES is indeed troubling and we must ensure that the Bermuda Government take immediate steps to address the issue, concerns and fears……
Once again the most damaging part of the United State Consulate statement, and must be repeated is, “The Government of Bermuda has announced that it plans to take measures to reduce or treat the outfall, but as of March 2014, the dumping continues unabated”.
“UNABATED” is what has forced this WARNING by the United States.
The tourism authority’s statement was anything but heartening. It was a bunch of vague politician talk. What would have been nice is a statement to the effect of, this is a big problem and here are three to five concrete steps we are taking to fix it. This is the timetable by which they should be completed, and this is the result we expect.
Silence-
In fairness, water quality affects tourism, but it is NOT the TA’s problem to solve.
It would be heartening to see the statement you seek come from Government, especially given the lead time necessary to build a waste treatment plant.
EW
As our only remaining major international resort does the Fairmont Southhampton monitor levels for the benefit of their guests? Where/how can we get advice on where/when to swim?
you can swim anywhere on the south shore…don’t let these reports fear you, um been swimming on d south shore my whole life, never had a problem. south shore is naturally replenishing while the north shore isn’t, if anything don’t swim on north shore lmao
Oh dear. We were so looking forward to finally coming to Bermuda on a Celebrity cruise and now this happens. Fortunately I haven’t made final payment and am able to cancel.
Watch out those brown sea cucumbers may not be all that they seem!
Another concern about pollution is the manner in which “some” people use and abuse our PINK BEACHES. There needs to be beach patrols that keep and eye out for people illegally lighting bonfires in the sand, and leaving their trash behind. I would strongly recommend that BERMUDA enact a policy of NO GLASS allowed on any beach. Too many times we have seen broken beer bottles and chard’s of glass splinters in the sand which is dangerous to beach goers.
Irony.
Tony. Your friends do it every weekend.
Glass/shards.
“beach patrols”.
I give the f…up.
When the Consulate learned this information (probably from the local press), they were immediately obligated to issue their warning – that is part of their mission, the protection of their citizens who are in Bermuda. The answer is simple – fix the problem…
Well I have no plans to swim in BDA beaches this summer! I like my brown complexion and I am not trying to get darker.. I’ll just stay home and relax around my pool. Good luck everyone!
I do not believe for one minute the above statement…now lets get up off of your lazy chair and test these waters…im expecting a report to be posted within the next week…if the waters from clearwater up to longbay in somerset have contaminants then I want to know about it.
yet they the US had no qualms leaving the baselands in a polluted state advise by our people on that
You took the words right out of my mouth!
The citizens of US living and visiting here don’t swim at the Baselands. Its completely different.
it’s the plp’s $h!*!
Actually it’s peoples s*** .
that’s what I said!!!
To Terry: No one I know leaves ANY trash on the beach – so stop talkin’ TRASH dude.
I grew up for a period of time at Hungry Bay and and remember when Durham Stephens agreed to the sewage system with the Corporation and the hospital – big mistake!! I also remember the crap (needles) from the hospital turning up in the Bay and a good friend catching hepatitis. The Government then extended the outfall, macerated the sewage and the problems went away. We the bought a house in the area and suffered from the occasional smell from the sewage outflow. Somehow that got solved but we would worry about the black slick around the outfall. I now live near Grape Bay and spend too much time in the water at the beach. Fortunately no problems have emerged but maybe I have been so exposed to all the pathogens and have a good immune system. Certainly swimming in Hungry Bay in my childhood and Grape Bay could have done that. Here are my suggestions:
1. Extend the outfall another 100 yards beyond the reef – not that expensive in the whole scheme of things!! Certainly would cost less than the new dock at dockyard.
2. Measure the pathogen content of the water at Hungry Bay, Grape Bay and Elbow Beach at least 3 times a week and immediately PUBLISH the results.
3. Build a new sewage treatment unit for Hamilton – expensive but has to be done. Good location would be the property to the West of the entrance of Seabright Avenue off South Road.
I have real problems with the Health Department and their SECRECY. For some strange reason anything they have responsibility for is a NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE. I tried to get information on the number of hip replacements at the hospital and THEY REFUSED TO TELL ME. They are responsible for protecting our health not preserving national security. It is time that they started to be open and honest with us. Wake up Health Department your job is to protect us not protect your a**!
A much bigger problem that no-one will talk about is the quality of our drinking water. You are probably drinking water that is much more contaminated than the ocean water. Yes you are drinking water from your tank that is dirty as s***!! All that bird s*** and decomposing leaves and crap is very hazardous. And don’t add clorox as the Health Department recommends since you will create all kinds of chlorates and other other bad things that are not good for you. No-one talks about it but it is a HUGE PROBLEM. I hate to make you paranoid but the Health Department wont talk about this problem and you need to think about it. There are solutions, clean your tank frequently and add a filtration and ultraviolet disinfection system.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WE NEED YOU TO SPEAK UP. WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU. PLEASE DO YOUR JOB.
All houses in bermuda have pits ! Where your crap goes.. so tell me where is all this crap coming from ! Cruise ships japs fishing in our waters ect ….. We need to step up our game figure this S*:* out and deal with who ever is responsible ! Dun Deal
Been diving out there off SP and ran into a big yellow grease ball. My visiting dive buddies will never come back now that we know it was raw sewage. Very sad!
That discharge pipe has been there since the late 60s. Originally it only extended just outside the reefline. This created a seious problem with stuff coming back to shore so it was extended a good distance further out where, most of the time, everything gets carried out into the deep.
The situation we have today is nothing new. It is not everyday. It is not even very frequent. It only happens when we get we get wind from the east for expended periods which is not often.
Still some sort of pre treatment needs to be done before being put into the pipe & restaurants need to dispose their cooking oil in a responsible manner.
the Ministry of Health & Environment should hold a Press Conference with them swimming in the south shore.
Get off your lazy behinds, find out who is dumping the filth, find them, slap them senseless, throw them in jail, give them a multi-million dollar fine.
If you don’t, I will curse Bermuda!
This pipeline sewage system we have is seriously dated. We are far behind the times
To be real NORTH SHORE IS FAR WORSE THAN ANY SOUTH SHORE BEACH BY FAAAARRR!! The currents churn south shore up while north shore just stays sits der!
Most countries have a flag system to indicate water quality on any given day, blue flag normally indicating water quality is excellent. Such a system might make our neurotic American friends feel safer.
Wouldn’t building a plant create jobs AND fix a public health problem and serve tourism better? Sounds like a win win win if I were the OBA.
I think it is a shame that the Warning message could not have simply said. “The situation is being monitored by the Government of Bermuda and warnings will be posted when conditions are not suitable. Bermuda’s waters are amongst the clearest to be found anywhere and beaches are only affected during rare meteorological conditions”
The is the type of warning that could be correct (with Government cooperation) and would not have sounded like the sky is falling. I think the Council General has overreacted to this and I would encourage the local authorities to make a formal complaint to the state department. This announcement was totally
inappropriate.
Now I wish I hadn’t booked a cruise visiting Bermuda.
Oh look a Baby Ruth bar. April fools!