Section 18.28. Bathing beach contamination

(a) Use of a bathing beach found to be contaminated shall be discontinued until written approval to reopen the bathing beach for swimming or bathing is obtained from the Department. The permittee shall prominently post legible signs measuring at least 8" by 11" at all entrances to the bathing beach area informing the public that the bathing beach is closed and that swimming or bathing is prohibited. The approval will be given by the Department when the Department finds that the waters of the bathing beach are no longer contaminated.

(b) The water in bathing beaches will be considered contaminated for bathing purposes when one of the following conditions exists:

(1) The Department determines that a substance is being discharged or may be discharged into the water and is or may be hazardous to the health of persons using the bathing beach.

(2) The E. coli density of a water sample taken from the bathing beach exceeds 235 per 100 milliliters.

(3) The E. coli density in all water samples taken from the bathing beach, in any 30-day period during the bathing beach’s operating season, exceeds a geometric mean of 126 per 100 milliliters.

The provisions of this § 18.28 adopted September 18, 1971, effective September 18, 1971, 1 Pa.B. 1921; amended June 19, 1981, effective June 20, 1981, 11 Pa.B. 2133; amended July 16, 2004, effective July 17, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 3695. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (216884) to (216885).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 18.28 amended under the Public Bathing Law (35 P. S. § § 672—680d); the Local Health Administration Law (16 P. S. § § 12001—12028); and section 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929) (71 P. S. § 510-20).

Cross References

This section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 18.23 (relating to recirculation and filtration); and 28 Pa. Code § 18.30 (relating to water samples).