Environment America: “America’s beaches are some of our favorite places to relax … when the water is safe. Where is water pollution harming our ability to enjoy the beach? And what can we do to stop it? Americans love the beach. Our lake and ocean waters are great places to cool off on a hot day, to relax with friends and family, or simply to enjoy peace and quiet amid nature. Too often, however, water pollution ruins our enjoyment of the beach – and it can even make us sick. Fecal contamination from sources such as urban runoff, sewage overflows and factory farms can contain pathogens that threaten the health of swimmers, or that force beaches to be closed to protect public health. How often do fecal contamination levels at America’s beaches pose a potential threat to our health? And what steps can we take to reduce water pollution that harms our coastal waters?

61% of U.S. beaches had potentially unsafe contamination levels in 2024. In 2024, 1,930 out of 3,187 tested beaches nationwide (61%) experienced at least one day on which indicators of fecal contamination reached potentially unsafe levels – that is, exceeding EPA’s most protective “Beach Action Value,” a conservative, precautionary tool states can use to make beach notification decisions. Beaches may also have experienced contamination on days when testing did not take place. (See “Methodology” below.) And 453 beaches – approximately one in seven beaches tested nationwide – had potentially unsafe levels of fecal contamination on at least 25% of the days on which testing took place.

How often were beaches in my state potentially unsafe in 2024? States vary in how frequently and widely they test their beaches. The dashboard below shows the number of days with tests showing potentially unsafe levels of fecal indicator criteria in each state in 2024, as well as the percentage of days on which testing took place. Choose a state below to begin…”