Diane Gotelli, a concerned resident of Willard Beach, lives in South Portland.

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, South Portland’s City Council will hold a workshop on the water quality at Willard Beach. Over a year ago (in June of 2024), Willard was added to the state Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP’s) list of impaired waters because of persistent bacterial contamination in the water. Last year, Willard had unsafe levels of Enterococci (fecal bacteria) on 21% of the days tested by Maine Healthy Beaches (MHB).

WB-17, the major stormwater drain discharging onto the beach, had exceedants 80% of the days tested. So far this summer (testing is twice weekly from Memorial Day to Labor Day), MHB has posted four days of unsafe levels and WB-17 has recorded 10 unsafe days out of 11 tested (all with no rain).

A stronger warning sign is needed on the drainpipe because children continue to play in the runoff and visiting dogs have gotten sick from drinking the water.

On Aug. 23, the beach was closed because of extremely high fecal bacteria counts: 1,354 for MHB and 1,904 at WB-17 (104 is the maximum safety threshold; test results have a turnaround time of two days).

Also in 2024, Friends of Casco Bay called for the DEP Bureau of Water Quality to list Willard Beach between Willard Street and Deake Street as impaired for nutrient/eutrophication — the nitrogen-rich algae bloom that in one year has spread as far as Myrtle Street.

Water reporters have tracked and photographed the algae mats since 2017. The bloom now lasts up to nine months. Both dog urine and synthetic lawn fertilizers have elevated levels of nitrogen feeding the algal bloom that depletes oxygen in the water.

The upcoming workshop offers a chance to reset the conversation. For too long the dialogue has been about dog feces vs. human sewage (with no reliable testing to distinguish between the two) and dogs off-leash (with warnings/citations/patrolling and acceptable risks) vs. dogs on leash. Both the scope of and facts about the beach’s impaired water quality are much broader.

Nutrients from dog urine and lawn fertilizers, stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces and aging pump stations all converge at Willard Beach. Off-leash dogs and people “sharing” the beach discount how the presence of too many dogs and people damage and endanger the natural environment (shorebird habitats, food sources and resting areas for migratory birds, and water that nourishes eelgrass, fish and crustaceans).

What is needed now is a transparent science-based plan focused on outcomes — one that residents can engage with and hold city leaders accountable for. To begin, I recommended an independent study by scientists with expertise in water quality, stormwater, nutrient dynamics and algal bloom science.

Scientists should use microbial source tracking to identify the origins of fecal contamination in water, soil and sediment. MST distinguishes between human and dog (or other animal) feces. With microbial source tracking, the percentage of contamination each contributes to Willard Beach’s sands, soils and water can be determined and appropriate remediation taken.

Science, not politics, holds the answer to addressing the impaired water quality at Willard Beach.