Map Shows US Beaches With Highest Levels of Bacteria in Water
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Ten beaches across five states and Puerto Rico were identified as hotspots for bacteria, according to the Surfrider Foundation's annual Clean Water Report. The report comes as Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer, with countless Americans venturing to beaches to celebrate.
Why It Matters
Beach closures due to algal blooms or high levels of bacteria aren't unusual, particularly during the summer months. Warmer weather can harbor bacteria, causing contaminated waterways to rise. Some beaches across the United States have experienced widespread impacts.
However, beach contamination is on the rise, with Surfrider's recent report showing that 80 percent of beaches tested exceeded state health standards for bacteria levels at least once in 2024.
Stock photo of seagulls on a beach
Stock photo of seagulls on a beach
MarkusBeck/Getty
What To Know
More than 10,000 water tests were conducted across 604 testing sites for the 2024 report, released on May 20. Water was tested in Washington, Oregon, California, Puerto Rico, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Hawaii, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine.
Of those tested, 483 exceeded state health standards at least once. High bacteria levels appeared in 25 percent of all samples, a 3 percent jump from 2023 numbers.
The report listed 10 beaches as being bacterial hotspots. This means the beaches consistently measured high bacteria levels when tested by Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force. In some cases, water testing showed high levels of bacteria more than 90 percent of the time.
Beaches included in the top 10 are:
Windmill Beach in Sag Harbor, New York
Ballard Park in Melbourne, Florida
Park View Kayak Launch in Miami Beach, Florida
Playa Crashboat in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
South Sound Thea Foss Floating Dock in Tacoma, Washington
Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, California
San Luis Creek Mouth in Avila Beach, California
Imperial Beach in San Diego, California
Kahalu'u in Oahu, Hawaii
Waikomo Stream at Koala Landing in Kauai, Hawaii
"These popular recreational beaches pose real health risks to swimmers, surfers, and families. Each location regularly shows dangerous levels of fecal-indicator bacteria tied to human illnesses, including gastrointestinal issues, flu-like symptoms, and serious skin conditions like MRSA and staph infections," the report said.
Some of the causes behind the bacterial contamination were attributed to stormwater runoff and failing sewage infrastructure.
The cleanest beaches in the U.S. were not ranked.
What People Are Saying
A Surfrider Foundation spokesperson told Newsweek: "[G]enerally speaking beaches located near storm drains, creeks or river mouths are most likely to be affected by...pollution as these freshwater flows collect pollution from the watershed—stormwater and urban runoff, seepage from septics or sewer line failures, pet waste or other wildlife—and bring it down to the ocean. So ocean beaches without these freshwater discharges tend to have good water quality supportive of safe swimming or surfing, unless there has been a large rain event or some type of pollution discharge like a sewage overflow."
The spokesperson added: "What's most important is that people are aware that water quality is something that can affect a fun day at the beach and they should check local water quality conditions before getting into the water."
The report said: "Not only do our beaches provide an opportunity for rest and relaxation, but they are also the foundation of valuable coastal tourism and ocean recreation industries that sustain 2.5 million jobs nationwide and contribute $240 billion in gross domestic product to the national economy each year. Despite the inherent value of our nation's coastal resources, the CDC estimates that more than 5 million people get sick from swimming in contaminated water each year."
What Happens Next
Surfrider Foundation is "working urgently" in the affected communities to alert the public about the health hazards, the report said. In some cases, beaches will close because of high bacteria levels, and the public is urged to follow any guidance from local officials.
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