Causes of Beach Pollution

There are many factors that cause beach pollution. Beach pollution is caused by natural phenomena (red tides, heavy rain, hurricanes, unexpected weather changes) and human activity on the coastal and continental zone. The most frequently identified pollution source is stormwater, stormwater runoff affects the beaches when the inland water reaches the sea. This is due to the debris carried by the water. The other contributing factor to beachwater pollution is rain. Heavy rain can overwhelm sewage systems, forcing raw sewage directly into coastal waters, bypassing treatment plants. And as rainwater washes over land, it picks up pollutants and carries them directly to coastal waters. Pollutants found in stormwater include trash, motor oil, pet waste, pesticides, fertilizer, animal droppings, and anything else that washes off developed land when it rains. Tourists or people’s behavior is also important as well.

There are other factors that could cause beach pollution:

• Fertilizers or pesticides used in agricultural zones.
• Spills from septic tanks, treatment plants or drains.
• Wastes from poultry or pig farms.
• Architectural coating wastes (waterproofing and paints).
• Edible waste dumped in the sea by restaurant operators who do not have the infrastructure to deal with their waste products.
• Fish and seafood product waste caused by fishermen cleaning their products on the beach.
• Wastes from ships and small vessels (oil and refuse).
• Wastes from sugar mills close to the coast.
• Drainage discharges, treated or untreated, of a domestic, agricultural or industrial origin when drainage or sewer outlets empty directly into the sea or as a result of tidal action that may channel the pollutants to the beach zones or concentrate the wastes in the area for days.

I think government should control some activities that will cause beach pollution. The local community should incorporate with stakeholders in order to find out what are the main factors causing beach pollution and solve the problem. Beaches are beautiful destination for many tourists, so we need to protect the beaches, prevent the pollution on beaches. Tourists should take the responsibility too.