- Grab the NSC Blog Feed!Nothing closes a local swimming hole or beach faster than E. coli bacteria. There are hundreds of strains and certain types cause severe gastrointestinal illness. The presence of E. coli is also an indicator that other harmful microbes lurk in the water. For that reason, health officials regularly test area beaches and waterways for the bacterium and as Bostonians, we have gotten accustomed to looking for the flag on the cities beaches. Blue means okay for swimming, red means warning, no swimming, potential health risks.
The Blue Flag is an award given to beaches and marinas regarding the environment. This award was created in 1985 by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Each year, this organization rewards the beaches and marinas that pursue a policy regarding a quality environment. Nowadays, the Blue Flag is a reference for all beach dwellers, especially at city beaches. Previously, only two criteria were needed to obtain the Blue Flag; nowadays, the beaches and marinas must fill the four following requirements to obtain the Blue Flag:
- Environmental Education and Information
- Water Quality
- Environmental Management
- Safety and services
