America’s Beaches Swamped with Poop: Crisis Could Deepen!

It’s not only the swimming pools of New York City that are plagued with fecal contamination. A recent study by the Environment America Research & Policy Center reveals that in 2024, more than 60 percent of beaches across the U.S. were found to have dangerous levels of fecal bacteria on at least one occasion.

Yes, that means there’s a significant chance that your delightful beach outing in 2024 with family was marred by the presence of fecal matter in the water.

Highlighted by The Hill, the study scrutinized 3,187 beach locations using data from the National Water Quality Monitoring Council. It was discovered that 1,930 of these sites surpassed the EPA’s Beach Action Value, which is a threshold set to determine whether water quality is too poor for swimming activities.

The investigation wasn’t a one-time check per beach. Each location underwent multiple tests. Shockingly, about one in seven beaches was considered potentially hazardous for swimming on at least 25 percent of the testing days. In total, 453 beaches were flagged for consistently dangerous fecal contamination levels.

High Levels of Fecal Contamination in American Beaches—And It Could Get Worse

The Gulf Coast was identified as having the most fecal-contaminated beaches. Specifically, 84 percent of beaches in what’s now being called the Gulf of America had at least one day with critical contamination levels.

Following closely, the West Coast saw 79 percent of its beaches unfit for human use due to fecal contamination. The Great Lakes came in third, with 71 percent of its beaches filled with fecal matter.

Comparatively, the East Coast fared slightly better, with 54 percent of beaches tested showing fecal contamination. The cleanest states were Alaska and Hawaii, detached from the continental U.S., each with only 10 percent of their beaches showing alarming levels of contamination.

This isn’t just a matter of disgust but a serious health hazard. Contact with contaminated water can cause a range of illnesses, including severe gastrointestinal issues and ear infections. According to the report, approximately 57 million cases of waterborne illnesses are recorded annually in the U.S., many of which are never officially diagnosed or reported.

The timing of this report is particularly troubling as it was released just after the July 4 weekend, during which at least six U.S. beaches were forced to close due to high levels of harmful bacteria, primarily fecal in nature.

The future looks grim when it comes to resolving this issue: the EPA estimates that $630 billion is needed over the next two decades to overhaul the nation’s water infrastructure. Yet, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, crucial for funding improvements to wastewater and stormwater systems, is potentially facing cuts. The proposed federal budget for 2026 hints at reduced funding, a move that underscores a distressing trend in public health policy where the wellbeing of community water systems is sidelined.