DAPHNE, Ala. — It can be incredibly frustrating to drive all the way to the beach, only to find out a health advisory has been issued for the waters there. A no-swim warning can result in disappointed children … and adults. As the grownups try to find solutions to quash some of the runoff causing pollution, a new smartphone app released by the Waterkeeper Alliance will at least alert beach visitors if there is a problem. The Swim Guide is an app for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android (2.1 or higher) that makes it easy to explore and enjoy our waterways and beaches in Baldwin and Mobile counties, as well as hundreds of beaches in Florida, California and the Great Lakes. The app is available in the devices’ stores, and those without a smartphone can access the information online at www.theswimguide.org. “We’re really excited about the Swim Guide,” said Tammy Herrington, deputy director of Mobile Baykeeper, the local environmental advocacy organization affiliated with the international group. “We were able to load 18 beaches along coastal Alabama that have public access and where ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental Management) tests regularly for water quality. We can very quickly get the information that has not been accessible previously.” Water quality test results are also issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health. Herrington noted the site can be updated as soon as testing on water samples is complete. The red, yellow and green indicators make it easy for users to determine whether the water quality is safe for swimming. “It will tell you anything you need to know about whether it is safe to swim that day,” Herrington said. She pointed out the app and website are not equipped to alert swimmers of surf or riptide conditions. She said, “If you’re not sure what beaches are close by, it will also give you a map and directions, whether there’s a boat launch and other amenities.” Herrington said it is a great way to connect residents and visitors to the water, so they will understand the importance of maintaining good water quality. The Swim Guide also enables the user to share the whole adventure with their friends and family on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. The innovative app originates with a team from the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper chapter, which set out to determine if it was safe to swim in Lake Ontario. Seven years later, with input from more than 100 different beach monitoring sources covering more than 1,300 beaches a day and more than 128,000 points of data, people can now check the status and cleanliness of their local beaches in real time. Swim Guide includes descriptions and photographs of nearly 1,300 beaches across North America, including California, Miami, the Great Lakes, British Columbia and Alberta. Builders say Swim Guide will continue to expand until it covers beaches in every major beach community in North America. For more information, or to find out water quality if you do not have access to the electronics, call 433-4229.