Despite evidence of modest improvement, Monroe County and western New York beaches continue to top the list for pollution concerns in a national study of public swimming sites.

Ontario Beach in Charlotte was tied with two other Great Lakes beaches for fourth-worst in the state last year for the number of water samples exceeding national standards for safe swimming, according to data compiled by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Great Lakes beach closings account for 18 percent of all closings and advisories nationally. A total of 3,300 were issued in 2009 — a decrease of 4 percent compared to the previous year. The region still has the highest rate of days when water samples exceed national standards for safe swimming at 13 percent.

In 2009, 38 percent of water samples failed to meet state bacteria standards, ranking Ontario Beach 48th worst in the nation in the study of more than 3,000 beaches.

“Sewage and runoff pollution in our beach water is preventable,” said Jon Devine, senior NRDC water attorney. “With investment in cost-effective, smarter water practices that are available today, communities can tackle the most common sources of pollution lurking in the waves.”

The two worst beaches in New York are … Krull Park in Niagara County at 57 percent and St. Vincent Depaul Beach in Erie County at 52 percent.

The Great Lakes suffer from storm water runoff, sewer-system discharges and other pollutants. Those sources are blamed for feeding bacteria into the lakes and for loading the water with nutrients that stimulate the growth of beach-fouling algae.

Ontario Beach was closed more days than it was open last year. According to Monroe County health officials, the beach was open for 38 days, but closed for 42. Durand-Eastman beach was open for 39 days and closed for 45 in 2009.

This season, Ontario Beach has been open 18 days and closed 18 days. Durand-Eastman has been open 20 days and closed 17.

“Last summer was a fairly wet summer and there tends to be a direct correlation between excessive rain and effect on our beaches,” he said. “Normally if you look at 20-years-plus of data, you will find that our beaches are open about two-thirds of the time.”

The county has an intensive testing program. Ontario Beach is the most tested beach in the state with 264 samples in 2009.

“We test our waters every day,” said county health department spokesman John Ricci. “To some extent it almost seems like by being proactive, to insure that our waters are safe to swim in, that when this data comes out your almost penalized for being diligent.”

Christine English of Rochester brought her two sons and their friends to Ontario Beach on Wednesday to cool off in the water. She said the testing makes her feel better about letting her children swim at the beach.

“I worry about it a little because it can make you sick,” she said. “But I’m glad they test the water and I call the beach hotline before we head to the beach.”

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