These Are the 10 Most Bacteria-Contaminated Beaches in the U.S.

The Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) has revealed its 2023 list of the 10 most bacteria-polluted beaches in the U.S.

In order to determine their results, the BWTF collected 9,538 samples from 567 sites across America. 67 percent of the samples showed the presence of bacteria, while 11 percent contained medium levels of bacteria. 22 percent of the samples tested positive for high bacteria levels.

Overall, 64 percent of the 567 beaches monitored did not pass state health standards at least once in the past year.

According to the report, a lack of funding is to blame for the increasingly poor conditions. "Chronic underfunding has forced states to prioritize which beaches to monitor, reduce sampling frequency, and limit beach seasons in order to stretch their federal grant dollars as far as possible," it reads.

The Surfrider Foundation notes that much of the contaminants are chemicals and other pollutants washed from rainwater down storm drains and into rivers, creeks, lakes, and oceans. Too, an influx of rain can cause cesspools, septic systems, and sewers to send an overflow of untreated water into natural sources.

"Nearly 10 trillion gallons of untreated stormwater runoff flow into U.S. waterways every year, carrying a cocktail of pollutants including road dust, oil, animal waste, fertilizers, and other chemicals," the report explains. "Sewage can contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites that make people sick with gastrointestinal symptoms, rashes, skin and eye infections, flu-like symptoms, and worse."

The two beaches that topped the list of bacteria-contaminated locations—Imperial Beach in San Diego and Nawiliwili Stream at Kalapaki Bay in Kauai, HI—failed every administered test. In that case, bacteria levels are so high that the report said those locations are categorically unsafe for swimming.

"Coastal waters along Tijuana, Mexico, and Imperial Beach, U.S.A., are frequently polluted by millions of gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater runoff," the report says. "Entering coastal waters causes over 100 million global annual illnesses, but CWP (coastal water pollution) has the potential to reach many more people on land via transfer in sea spray aerosol."

Last June, Fox 5 San Diego reported that local officials had declared a state of emergency over the sewage contaminating Imperial Beach. At the time it was declared, the beach had already been closed for 562 consecutive days. The beach remains closed, but Imperial Beach’s mayor, Paloma Aguirre, said last month that she has created a task force to push the government for increased funding in order to return the beach to its former glory.

However, Surfrider informed its readers that closing beaches is not a solution to this problem.

"These closures don’t fully prevent people from getting sick as some toxins are aerosolizing and contaminating the air in Imperial Beach and other nearby border communities," the foundation said. "People are getting sick just by breathing the air as they go to work, school, and even trying to enjoy their own backyards."

Two other beaches in California--Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica and the San Luis Creek Mouth in San Luis Obispo--also made the list at number five and nine, respectively. In addition to the second spot, Hawaii also took third place with its Kahalu'u beach in Oahu. Florida also claimed two spots: Miami Beach's Park View Boat Launch took fourth place, while Melbourne, FL's Ballard Park placed eighth.

Below, you can check out Surfrider’s list of the 10 most bacteria-contaminated beaches in America.

1. Imperial Beach --San Diego, CA (100 percent contaminated)
2. Nawiliwili Stream at Kalapaki Bay --Kauai, Hawaii (100 percent contaminated)
3. Kahalu'u --Oahu, Hawaii (86 percent contaminated)
4. Park View Kayak Launch --Miami Beach, Florida (73 percent contaminated)
5. Linda Mar Beach --Pacifica, California (54 percent contaminated)
6. South Sound Tea Floss Floating Dock --Tacoma, Washington (47 percent contaminated)
7. Flying Point: Mecox Bay --Southampton, New York (46 percent contaminated)
8. Ballard Park --Melbourne, Florida (37 percent contaminated)
9. San Luis Creek Mouth --San Luis Obispo, California (35 percent contaminated)
10. Playa Crashboat --Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (26 percent contaminated)