Which factor is NOT among those typically monitored at beaches?

• A. Water temperature.
• B. Rainfall within 24 and 48 hours.
• C. Water pH.
• D. Wind speed and direction.

Answer: (C)

The factor being tested here is not typically used to judge beach safety, because beach monitoring focuses on indicators that directly signal potential health risk to bathers. Rainfall within the last 24 to 48 hours is tracked because rain can wash contaminants from land into the water, raising the chance of higher pathogen levels after storms. Wind speed and direction are monitored because they affect how water moves and how contaminants are dispersed, which helps predict where and when advisories might be needed. Water temperature is commonly observed as part of environmental conditions and can relate to seasonal patterns and microbial behavior, so it’s a routine variable in beach surveillance.

Water pH, while important for overall water chemistry, does not directly indicate immediate health risk at beaches and is not a standard trigger for beach advisories, so it’s not typically monitored for public health decisions.