While we like to think of our state as pristine compared to the rest of the nation, that’s not the picture that emerges from a beach-closing report issued Tuesday.

Eleven percent of Maine’s beach water samples in 2009 exceeded bacterial standards. Nationwide, the average was 7 percent.

That’s according to a Portland-based advocacy group, Environment Maine, which last week reported that the number of beach closings and health advisories due to pollution increased by 47 percent in Maine from 2008 to 2009.

Exposure to contaminated beach water can cause a wide range of health problems, including ear, nose and eye infections; stomach flu; skin rashes; hepatitis; encephalitis; and respiratory illnesses, according to the group’s website.

“This report is very alarming,” Environment Maine Director Emily Figdor told the Bangor Daily News.

Rainy weather in 2009 may have been to blame for the spike in bacteria. The 25 inches of summer rainfall was double that of an average year, Keri Lindberg, coordinator for Maine Healthy Beaches, told the BDN.

“What happens when it rains is that everything drains to the shoreline,” Lindberg said. “It’s dog waste, malfunctioning septic systems, manure and wildlife waste.”

Yuck. That’s a lot of bad stuff flowing straight to the sea.

Not mentioned were sewer system outflows from inland and coastal communities. Lewiston and Auburn have spent millions of dollars separating their storm water and sanitary sewer systems.

That has reduced the flow coming into the sanitary treatment facility in Lewiston. However, storms and heavy rainfall still result in forced overflows when untreated waste goes directly into the Androscoggin River.

In 2009, 208 million gallons of untreated waste flowed past the treatment plant and directly into the river.

Further progress will require further investment, which is expensive … and a tough sell in this period of municipal budget cutting and tax increases.

Most of the coastal beach closings were at small public beaches, often near the outlets of rivers. Still, even inland beaches suffer, as seen recently when the town of Raymond closed its beach on Sebago Lake.

The problem there: human waste, diapers, soda bottles, prescription bottles, hypodermic needles and cigarette butts left by beach-goers.

The beach pollution is a human problem and requires a human solution. People can help by always picking up after their pets, not only near beaches but everywhere and, in more rural areas, making sure their septic systems are working to full capacity.

In a state that prides itself on its coastline, and depends on it for its tourist businesses, the higher-than-average rate of beach closings is an embarrassment.

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