The Economics of Beach and Water Pollution

Beaches, rivers, and lakes are the top tourist vacation destinations for Americans. Americans average approximately six trips to the beach per person per year. Roughly one-fourth of the population goes swimming in these waters every year. The Environmental Protection Agency calculates roughly that 28.3 million jobs, generating 54 billion in goods and services, are supported by coastal waters. Pollution in the water and on the beaches places these revenues at risk and for the houses and land located near polluted waters, it can also threaten the property value. An American Housing survey found that homes located within 300 feet of a water body are valued at up to 28% higher. Investing in clean water programs will help to protect the millions of visitors to the ocean and bay beaches, as well as the jobs of local business men who rely on beach recreation, fishing, and waterfront hotels and restaurants. For example Hawaii's tourists' dollars spent in Hawaii was estimated to be 14 billion, and contributed to 180,700 jobs. Polluted beaches not only cost local businesses, tourist income, and jobs, but they also cause a loss to the tourists who had planned to visit the beach and swim in the water. Economists have estimated that a typical swimming/beach day is worth roughly $31.00 to each visitor. The loss of this consumer surplus can be quite devastating depending on the number of potential visitors to a beach or bay, especially in the islands of Hawaii.

This information was gathered from the following site--> http://www.planetagenda.com/beachpollution/htm.