Discussions are under way to determine whether a health hazard warning should be removed from the US State Department’s website stating that Bermuda’s beaches are contaminated.

A tourist who has visited Bermuda some 30 times contacted this newspaper with concerns about the warning of “ongoing dumping of raw sewage”.

The Bermuda Government has said that according to its figures, Bermuda’s waters are now safe for swimming and that it is “in discussions” with the US Consul General over the matter.

Bermuda’s beaches hit the headlines after a 2013 study that warned of “intermittent contamination” when grease balls were washing up on the beaches, as revealed in this newspaper.

Government has since put in place a Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Control Policy which requires all food establishments to remove FOG from their wastewater prior to disposing it in the City sewer system. Regular water testing now takes place and the results are published publicly online.

Government also took measures to improve operations at the Tynes Bay Septage Facility with more control on the types of wastes being received.

The US State Department’s website claims that Bermuda’s authorities “do not consistently provide warnings at those times when water may be contaminated.”

It lists possible health effects for swimmers including gastroenteritis, ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and staph infections, and advises immunisation against Hepatitis A and typhoid.

The website states: “Ongoing dumping of raw sewage off Bermuda’s south coast causes intermittent contamination of the waters along the Island’s south shore beaches, creating a public health hazard. Changing weather conditions — wind, swells, tides, and rain — can bring rapid degradation of water quality along the beaches, resulting in human bacteria levels from fecal contamination up to four times the acceptable US standard. Bermudian authorities do not consistently provide warnings at those times when water may be contaminated.”

The Department of Health now routinely samples and tests seawater from Bermuda’s beaches for enterococci, a group of bacteria which are used as indicators of faecal pollution.

According to the Government’s current online figures, the levels of bacteria are far below the US Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended levels.

The tourist wrote to this newspaper saying: “For the past ten years we have stayed at the Reefs on the South Shore. I have read the US State Department warning about raw sewage being dumped unabated off of the South Shore. I have sent e-mails to the BDA Tourist Authority inquiring if this indeed is a health hazard in BDA but received no meaningful response. Any information your paper might have will be appreciated as we want to return to BDA this fall.”

The Government said it can “assure the public of the bathing water quality of Bermuda’s beaches” while incoming US Consul General Mary Ann Koenig said the matter needed to be discussed. She said: “I do think the decision to put that up warrants looking at and looking at if the language is appropriate. We are in the process of those discussions.”

A government spokesman would not specifically say that the US State Department website was inaccurate but did say it was in discussions with the US Consul General over the issue.

He said: “In 2014, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) concluded that the sea/beach water quality results generated by the Bermuda Department of Health are reliable, confirming the bathing beaches of Bermuda meet the US EPA’s requirements for safe recreational use. In July 2015, the programme manager for Regional Tourism and Health, Dr Lisa Indar, visited Bermuda and reaffirmed the health of Bermuda’s beach water. The Department of Health continues to regularly perform seawater sampling and can assure the public of the bathing water quality of Bermuda’s beaches. Results can be viewed at goo.gl/9SCakk. This contains the most up-to-date information about Bermuda’s seawater quality and it is the only source of up-to-date information on this matter.”

Specific steps that have been taken by the Government to address the situation include grease traps installed in restaurants connected to the city sewer; the hiring of a health inspector to monitor the traps and establishments; the upgrading of wastewater pumping station filters; and the renovation of Tyne’s Bay septage facility.

Studies are also under way to explore the extension and/or replacement of the Seabright outfall and legislation is being drafted to make the City of Hamilton FOG Policy, a regulation under the Hamilton Sewage Act, to assure accountability and enforcement.”

Karla Lacey Minors of the Bermuda Tourism Authority said: “Bermuda’s beaches are healthy by all the sources we consult with. We look forward to having this US website reflect the current reality.”

The US State Department did not respond to our request for information.