The Filth Level of New York Beaches, By The Numbers
- Photo via NYCgovparks
Manhattan Beach
Though dirtier than nearby Brighton, Manhattan Beach actually came out of this looking alright, with just two notification days overall (and no official starred ranking). The water quality seemed variable, though, with a monitoring station near Kingsborough Community College reporting zero irregular samples, while seven percent of readings at nearby Manhattan Beach Park proved worrisome.
So what does any of this mean, really? Well, it means that a lot of areas are still fighting their way back to pre-Sandy form in more ways than one, and that the NRDC is pretty correct in its assessment that the city needs to seriously address sewage leaks and storm runoff with measures like porous sidewalks, green rooftops, and “rain gardens.” More immediately? It means nothing bad is going to happen if you go in the water this summer. Go, commune with nature. It’ll be worth the miniscule risk.
Follow Virginia K. Smith on Twitter @vksmith.