"Thousands of Americans will head to beaches for one last summer splash this Labor Day weekend, but taking a dip might be out of the question: Many of the beaches will caution against swimming because of unsafe levels of fecal contamination. Beaches from Crystal River, Florida, to Ogunquit, Maine, have been under advisories warning about water quality this week because of elevated levels of bacteria associated with fecal waste."
"Nearly two-thirds of beaches tested nationwide in 2024 experienced at least one day in which indicators of fecal contamination reached potentially unsafe levels, conservation group Environment America said in a report issued this summer. The group reviewed beaches on the coasts and Great Lakes and found that 84% of Gulf Coast beaches exceeded the standard at least once. The report also said more than 450 beaches were potentially unsafe for swimming on at least 25 percent of the days tested."
Beaches across the United States have advisories warning against swimming due to elevated levels of fecal bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness, rashes and nausea. Popular destinations from Cape Cod and Long Island to San Diego and Hawaii have faced closures or warnings. Nearly two-thirds of beaches tested in 2024 recorded at least one day with potentially unsafe indicators of fecal contamination, with especially high rates on the Gulf and West Coasts and the Great Lakes. Outdated water and sewer systems allow sewage contamination to reach places where people swim.
Read at Fortune
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