Delaware News

Rehoboth Beach Receives 5-Star Rating for Clean Water Quality

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017) | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Friday, June 29, 2012



Joins Dewey Beach as one of the nation’s Superstar Beaches

Rehoboth Beach receives 5-star rating for clean water quality
REHOBOTH BEACH (June 29, 2012) Today, Rehoboth Beach received national recognition as a Superstar Beach, joining with Dewey Beach as Delaware’s 5-star  beaches – two of the top beaches in the country for swimming water quality.

Recognized by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in their report, “Testing the Waters,” released June 27, Rehoboth and Dewey were among only 13 beaches of 3,000 beaches nationwide awarded 5-star ratings for perfect swimming water quality for the past three years. This marks the second year in a row that Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches were awarded Superstar status.

In the report, the NRDC had awarded Rehoboth Beach a 4-star rating based upon the reported frequency of water quality monitoring. After the release of the report, DNREC’s Recreational Water Quality Testing Program staff contacted the NRDC with data that all Delaware’s ocean beaches were monitored twice weekly. Today, the NRDC determined that water quality monitoring met the frequency criteria and awarded Rehoboth Beach the 5-star rating.

Each year the NRDC evaluates two of the most popular beaches in each state for consideration of the 5-star rating. As Delaware’s most visited beaches, Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches were the only beaches in the state evaluated by the NRDC for Superstar Beach status. The report cited that the Delaware’s Atlantic beaches – Cape Henlopen State Park, Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, South Bethany, Delaware Seashore State Park, Fenwick Island, and Fenwick Island State Park –had perfect swimming water quality in 2011, with no swimming advisories issued.

“With Delaware receiving top honors nationally and both Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach being recognized again by NRDC, Delaware is emerging as the most pristine beach destination in the nation,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara.  “By serving as stewards of our treasured natural resources, we can maintain this advantage for years to come.”

The NRDC also recognized all of Delaware’s beaches with the highest national ranking for beach water quality. The state ranked 1st out of 30 states for the cleanest water quality overall.

For more information on the NRDC report, “Testing the Waters,” visit www.nrdc.org.

For more information on Delaware’s Recreational Water Quality Testing Program and the DNREC’s Watershed Assessment Section, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov.

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Rehoboth Beach Receives 5-Star Rating for Clean Water Quality

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control | Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017) | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Friday, June 29, 2012



Joins Dewey Beach as one of the nation’s Superstar Beaches

Rehoboth Beach receives 5-star rating for clean water quality
REHOBOTH BEACH (June 29, 2012) Today, Rehoboth Beach received national recognition as a Superstar Beach, joining with Dewey Beach as Delaware’s 5-star  beaches – two of the top beaches in the country for swimming water quality.

Recognized by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in their report, “Testing the Waters,” released June 27, Rehoboth and Dewey were among only 13 beaches of 3,000 beaches nationwide awarded 5-star ratings for perfect swimming water quality for the past three years. This marks the second year in a row that Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches were awarded Superstar status.

In the report, the NRDC had awarded Rehoboth Beach a 4-star rating based upon the reported frequency of water quality monitoring. After the release of the report, DNREC’s Recreational Water Quality Testing Program staff contacted the NRDC with data that all Delaware’s ocean beaches were monitored twice weekly. Today, the NRDC determined that water quality monitoring met the frequency criteria and awarded Rehoboth Beach the 5-star rating.

Each year the NRDC evaluates two of the most popular beaches in each state for consideration of the 5-star rating. As Delaware’s most visited beaches, Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches were the only beaches in the state evaluated by the NRDC for Superstar Beach status. The report cited that the Delaware’s Atlantic beaches – Cape Henlopen State Park, Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, South Bethany, Delaware Seashore State Park, Fenwick Island, and Fenwick Island State Park –had perfect swimming water quality in 2011, with no swimming advisories issued.

“With Delaware receiving top honors nationally and both Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach being recognized again by NRDC, Delaware is emerging as the most pristine beach destination in the nation,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara.  “By serving as stewards of our treasured natural resources, we can maintain this advantage for years to come.”

The NRDC also recognized all of Delaware’s beaches with the highest national ranking for beach water quality. The state ranked 1st out of 30 states for the cleanest water quality overall.

For more information on the NRDC report, “Testing the Waters,” visit www.nrdc.org.

For more information on Delaware’s Recreational Water Quality Testing Program and the DNREC’s Watershed Assessment Section, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov.

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.