It was disappointing to read the recent Cape Gazette article: "Big rains pollute Rehoboth surf." We have read for years that Sussex County beaches have some of the cleanest water on the eastern U.S. coast. The revelation that that is actually not the case after there are heavy rains should have come as no surprise to elected officials tasked with protecting the public from health threats.
Heavy rains are commonplace here. Neighboring states such as New Jersey have for many years been plagued with polluted beaches after storms. That alone should have been a warning to be alert and vigilant in ensuring the beaches remain clean. In addition, why did it take Delaware's state-mandated tests to discover this problem? Hasn't the water been more carefully tracked?
The level of reported contamination in Rehoboth is so much strikingly higher than what is stated as safe, and so substantially higher than the level at which actual beach closures are implemented that it boggles the mind. My mind is not put at ease by the fact that the state expected it to be worse, or by the observation that beginning about six hours after the storm pulls out, the pollution level begins to subside to safer levels, and after 24 hours it is reportedly nonexistent.
Why? Because it seems intuitive that polluted waters lapping up onto our beaches will leave residual contamination embedded into the sand, only to be transferred to our children, our pets and ourselves. Maybe all those viruses and infections people get have an explanation after all.
It is further disappointing that the mayor of Rehoboth Beach states the $15 million needed to have a guaranteed fix in the form of stormwater extension pipes is "way out of our bracket," especially since Rehoboth has just completed a $22 million new city hall. While evidently the old city hall needed to be addressed at some level, people do not come to Rehoboth to see city hall, they come to go to the beach. The money should have first been invested in ensuring the health and vitality of the very thing that keeps us all afloat.
The neglect of this problem affects everyone in the region, not just Rehoboth Beach. Visitors expect clean water and beaches, and any breach of that trust will result in people and their dollars going elsewhere. That will affect rentals, the outlets, the restaurants, real estate values, and our ability to thrive economically, not to mention our health. If we see a falloff of visitors in the coming years, and of local residents' satisfaction, you will know why.
Anthony W. Baldino
Lewes
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