The importance of Maine’s beaches and coastal waters to our economy and to our way of life can’t be overstated. People from all over the world travel here to enjoy the beauty of our coastline and taste the bounty of our waters. Nobody understands the value of these resources better than those of us who live here and know how the livelihood of our communities depends on the health of our coast. We also know that when pollution threatens the accessibility of our beaches and the viability of our fishing industry, it threatens all of us ”“ and we can’t afford to ignore it. 

If you’re like me, when you think of water pollution, you think of oil spills. But there is another danger to our waters that is not as visible: the increased acid in the ocean. Just as we have to keep the level of acid balanced in our pools and fish tanks, we don’t want to have too much acid in the ocean. Among other effects, increased acidity reduces the availability of calcium that shellfish need to survive and to build their shells. 

Whether it’s mussels, clams, oysters, scallops, or our signature lobster, all species of shellfish are threatened by the dangers of ocean acidification, and the health of shellfish is critical to Maine’s $530 million fishing industry.

That’s why I supported the creation of Maine’s Ocean Acidification Commission. Over the next five months, the commission will meet to get a better sense of the impact ocean acidification is having on our coastal communities and determine what we should do about it. They will develop a plan and report to the Legislature in December with the results of their work.

However, ocean acidification is not the only problem affecting Maine’s waters. Every year, the Natural Resources Defense Council releases data on beach water quality around the country. Their 2014 report places Maine 27th out of the 30 states ranked in clean beaches because of the levels of harmful bacteria on our beaches, which are above national standards.

One of the best ways to reduce the amount of harmful bacteria on our beaches is to update our wastewater management infrastructure. Runoff from rain and floodwaters is an important source of this pollution, and Maine’s wastewater infrastructure is aging. In 2012, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Maine a D+ for our wastewater infrastructure. According to their report, the last great development in wastewater infrastructure was in the 1970s and 1980s following the passage of the federal Clean Water Act. The result is that many of our communities are operating with 30-year-old systems at the end of their design life.

This spring, I joined my colleagues in the Legislature to approve a bond to update Maine’s water infrastructure. The bond will provide $10 million to update our drinking water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and culverts. It will be on the ballot in November for your approval. 

The continued growth of Maine’s tourism industry depends on taking care of our best assets, including the ocean and our beaches. The Ocean Acidification Commission and the water bond will help ensure these important resources remain healthy and viable for years to come.

— Sen. David E. Dutremble is a Democrat who represents the communities of Arundel, Biddeford, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. He lives in Biddeford with his wife and children. His column appears on the first Monday of each month.