Concerns Over Beach Water Quality in the U.S.
It’s more than just an isolated issue in specific areas of the U.S.
According to a recent report released by the Environmental America Research and Policy Center, 61% of American beaches saw at least one day last year where levels of fecal contamination indicators surpassed the thresholds set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This raises significant concerns about safety.
Regular water testing focuses on detecting fecal contamination, particularly looking for enterococcus and E. coli—bacteria that typically come from the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
The standards set a beach action value of 60 colony-forming units per 100 ml for enterococcus and 190 CFU/100 ml for E. coli.
For instance, in states like Illinois, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania, all monitored beaches had contamination issues at least once in the past year.
Swimming in water that’s contaminated with fecal matter can lead to various health concerns, including diarrhea, vomiting, respiratory problems, and other infections.
Using various resources, including the Water Quality Portal supported by the US Geological Survey and EPA, researchers analyzed 2024 fecal contamination data for beaches across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Data collection methods varied by state.
Shockingly, about 14% (or 452 beaches) were reported to be unsafe for at least a quarter of the days they were tested.
It’s interesting to note that some areas were notably worse than others. Last year, 84% of Gulf Coast beaches, 79% of West Coast beaches, 71% of Great Lakes beaches, and even 54% of East Coast beaches were deemed unsafe. Alaska and Hawaii had just 10% of their beaches reported with contamination issues at least once.
This contamination issue seems to be fairly widespread in certain states. For example, in Illinois, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania, every beach experienced contamination at least once. Alabama, Texas, and Ohio weren’t far behind, showing 96%, 94%, and 92% of their beaches affected, respectively.
Reportedly, there were over 7,563 health-related warnings or closures issued for American beaches last year.
The EPA explains that fecal contamination at swimming beaches can stem from numerous sources—ranging from human waste from swimmers to sewer discharges from malfunctioning treatment plants or inadequate wastewater systems. Rainfall can also wash various contaminants into the ocean.
Interestingly, surveys published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2018 highlighted that approximately 4 billion recreation events occur on surface waters every year, resulting in an estimated 90 million illnesses nationwide, costing around $2.2 to $3.7 billion each year.
Epidemiological data suggests that there’s a risk of acute gastrointestinal diseases linked to swimming and fishing, with about 15 cases per 1,000 individuals participating in these activities.
The EPA has indicated that a minimum of $63 billion will be necessary over the next two decades to protect American waters, which includes updating public wastewater treatment facilities, stormwater systems, and decentralized treatment methods.
