Going to the beach is a popular way to cool off in the summer, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is urging the public to click on its Web site before getting back in the water.
The EPA tests water at popular beaches for two bacteria -- Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) -- at two-week intervals in the summer in order to determine whether the water quality is safe for swimming.
unacceptable
The first tests conducted this summer revealed unacceptable levels of E. coli at Taichung County's Da-an beach (
Both beaches are close to river outlets, which increased their likelihood for an unsafe E. coli level, EPA division director Mou Lih-er (
The testing at Fulong beach on May 27 and May 28 found the concentration of E. coli to be 5,300 per 100ml. Da-an beach had a concentration of 1,100 per 100ml.
The EPA considers water with more than 1,000 E. coli per 100ml unsafe for swimming.
control
Mou said that since controlling pollution is beyond the means of the beach proprietors, the EPA would not impose fines for exceeding the E. coli limit.
Swimmers, however, can protect themselves by going to the EPA Web site at www.epa.gov.tw/wqm for the latest information on bacteria levels before they head for the beach.
AGING: While Japan has 22 submarines, Taiwan only operates four, two of which were commissioned by the US in 1945 and 1946, and transferred to Taiwan in 1973 Taiwan would need at least 12 submarines to reach modern fleet capabilities, CSBC Corp, Taiwan chairman Chen Cheng-hung (陳政宏) said in an interview broadcast on Friday, citing a US assessment. CSBC is testing the nation’s first indigenous defense submarine, the Hai Kun (海鯤, Narwhal), which is scheduled to be delivered to the navy next month or in July. The Hai Kun has completed torpedo-firing tests and is scheduled to undergo overnight sea trials, Chen said on an SET TV military affairs program. Taiwan would require at least 12 submarines to establish a modern submarine force after assessing the nation’s operational environment and defense
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