Lifeguards and sunscreen and important elements to beach safety, but there is another crucial, invisible factor: water quality.
The Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) has compiled a massive, interactive database that compiles information from more than 3,000 beaches, including water quality, closings and swimming advisories.
A vast majority of beaches in Falmouth are included in the database, including Stoney, Old Silver and Menauhant. According to NRDC data, very few Barnstable County beaches had closings or advisory days in 2012.
Massachusetts is ranked ninth best beach-water in America. Four percent of bacteria samples collected in 2012 were better quality than than required by law. Cleanliness standards are created by the Environmental Protection Agency, town officials, state officials and the NRDC.
According to the NRDC, storm-water pollution is the most common source of water pollution and beach closings. Bateria, viruses and other pathogens in that pollution can sicken swimmers.
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