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John,
The phrase "beach hazards," typically evokes thoughts of sharks, riptides and sunburns -- not nasty bacteria.
But each year, an estimated 57 million cases of illness in the U.S. are caused by swimming in oceans, lakes, rivers and ponds contaminated with fecal pathogens.[1]
Is your favorite beach safe for swimming? Check out our dashboard to find out which beaches in our state tested positive for fecal contamination last year.
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What makes a beach unsafe on some days?
Swimming in water with high levels of fecal bacteria can make you sick. A fun trip to the beach can end in gastrointestinal illness, respiratory disease, ear and eye infection or skin rash.
Last year, 453 beaches had unsafe amounts of bacteria more than 25% of the days they were tested.
To find out if a beach you're planning on visiting currently has unsafe levels of bacteria in the water, check out the state dashboard on our report. At the bottom of the drop-down for each state, we provide the link to the state website with the latest information on health warnings and beach closures.
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What can be done to protect beaches from contamination?
Common sources of beach contamination include runoff pollution and sewage.
Much of the wastewater infrastructure in the U.S. is out-of-date and poorly maintained, leading to leaks and overflows where untreated sewage flows directly into our waterways. By advocating for investment in better wastewater infrastructure, we're working to dramatically decrease the rates of fecal contamination.
Another way we're working to improve beach water quality is through protecting wetland habitat. Wetlands can help filter pollutants out of local rivers and streams before they reach our coastal beaches.
Want to learn more about what we can do to protect our beaches? Check out our "Safe for Swimming?" report.
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Ultimately, as our 2025 Safe for Swimming report reveals, there is much that needs to be done before Americans can safely take the plunge in any body of water on any given day. That's why we're working to raise awareness of these widespread problems. In the meantime, doing a little research before your next beach visit can reduce your chances of waterborne illness.
Wishing you a safe and healthy summer!
The team at Environment Colorado Research & Policy Center
P.S. All of our campaigns to protect clean water and make our beaches safe for swimming are funded by grassroots donations from supporters like you. Will you donate to strengthen our work?
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1. John Rumpler, Tony Dutzik and Nilou Yaar, "Safe for Swimming?," Environment America Research and Policy Center, July 7, 2025.
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Your donation will be used to support all of our campaigns to protect the environment, from saving the bees and protecting public lands, to standing up for clean water and fighting climate change. None of our work would be possible without supporters like you.
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Environment Colorado Research & Policy Center
1543 Wazee St., Suite 400, Denver, CO 80202, (303) 573-3871
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