Environmental microbiology students at Mount Allison University have presented their study on contamination problems at Parlee Beach.
They found there could be a link between development along the coast and fecal contamination in the water at the popular beach. They said it doesn’t seem to be a systemic problem along the whole Northumberland coast…just in spots, mainly Murray and Parlee beaches. They also found there was more bacterial contamination after heavy rains…but couldn’t pinpoint a source. It could be coming from septic systems, sewage lagoons that overflow or even faulty pipes in the municipal sewer system.