The breathtaking beaches beloved by Memorial Day tourists that harbor a grim diarrhea-inducing secret
With Memorial Day weekend just days away, many tourists and locals plan to enjoy the holiday at the beach, but a grim diarrhea-inducing secret hidden in the waters might make people think twice.
A recent report by the Surfrider Foundation - an organization that sets out to 'improve coastal water quality' across the country - found that 10 beaches, including three in California alone, are 'bacteria hot spots.'
The alarming results, which highlighted high bacteria levels in 2024, found that 80 percent of beaches and sampling sites produced 'at least one high bacteria result that exceeded state health standards.'
Among the affected areas are body's of water on the West Coast, East Coast, as well as in Hawai'i and Puerto Rico.
The detected bacteria is still in the process of being tested to further determine whether the polluted water is a result of human sewage or from animals like horses or dogs, Mara Dias, senior manager of the Water Quality Initiative at the Surfrider Foundation, told SF Gate.
Sewage can cause a slew of adverse health issues, including diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, rashes, skin and eye infections, other flu-like symptoms and even more severe illnesses like hepatitis.
The Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force compiled results after 60 labs processed 10,210 water samples from 604 locations across the country, the study detailed.
The beach that came in with the highest bacteria rate of 92 percent was Kahalu'u, O'ahu, Hawai'i.
Another popular destination, Waikomo Stream at Koloa Landing - also located in the 50th state - came in second at 90 percent, according to the report.
Park View Kayak Launch in Miami Beach, Florida also came in at 90 percent, research found.
Meanwhile, Imperial Beach - a popular Bay Area destination - came in not far behind at 82 percent.
Right behind came Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, California at 71 percent. The beach is specifically known as a popular west coast beauty spot and one of the largest in Pacifica.
The sixth most infected body of water with a 64 percent high bacteria rate was South Sound Thea Foss Floating Dock in Tacoma, Washington.
The tourist area measures at approximately three and one half miles just off Commencement Bay, adjacent from Tacoma's downtown area.
Another Sunshine State location, Ballard Park, also measured at a high rate - 52 percent.
Ballard Park is located in Melbourne, Florida and is part of a public park area that is situated on the Indian River Lagoon and the Eau Gallie River.
Destinations known for warm weather nearly all year were not the only ones that ranked high for contamination as Windmill Beach in Sag Harbor, New York came in at 43 percent.
The New York beach is located in the Hamptons - a popular summer destination for those on the east coast.
Yet another California location made the startling list, as San Luis Creek Mouth in Avila Beach recorded 38 percent of high bacteria, the study found.
Niel Dilworth, the San Luis Obispo Chapter Surfrider Foundation Chair and Blue Task Force Coordinator, said the number is still concerning for the location even though it came in as the lowest on the list.
'Avila Beach is one of the locations that has the ten most frequent exceedances, so it's not at the top of the list, but that's something to be concerned about,' Dilworth told KEYT.
'Two years in a row now, we've been on the list as one of the top ten or bottom ten, I guess, depending on how you want to think about it, for having one of the dirtiest beaches as far as bacteria is concerned.'
Not only did the study bring alarming bacteria rates to light, but also highlighted a pressing struggle the non-profit is facing in relation to warning Americans about bacteria-infested waters across the nation.
'Unfortunately, the President's budget proposal for next year (FY2026) eliminates all funding for the EPA's BEACH Act Grants program that funds beach water quality monitoring and public notification programs in 35 coastal states and territories — which could leave families completely blind to pollution issues at America's beaches,' the organization said.
They also urged people to join them in 'calling on Congress to reject the Trump administration's proposal to slash funding for the EPA and support robust funding for the BEACH Act and other clean water programs.'
The group added: 'Everyone deserves to enjoy a fun day at the beach without worrying about getting sick from exposure to pollution.'
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