Here's the icky truth: there’s a chance that during last summer’s beach trip you swam in water containing unsafe levels of poop. A new study was performed by the nonprofit Environment America’s Research & Policy Center (EARPC). It tested 3,187 US beaches in 2024. It found that 1,930 revealed unsafe levels of fecal bacteria in the water on at least one day. That's more than 6 of every 10 tested. Gulf Coast beaches scored highest at 84%. The West Coast came in second at 79%. The Great Lakes ranked third at 71%. Pollution affects too many beaches, EARPC report co-author and clean water director John Rumpler said in a prepared statement. Fecal contamination at beaches is caused by many factors. Malfunctioning treatment plants is one. Some discharge raw or undertreated sewage downstream. Stormwater runoff is a second factor. It washes poop from pets and wildlife into waterways. Recreational boats also dump it straight into the water. And yes, swimmers, sometimes poop in the ocean too. The study was first reported by The Hill. It was published four days after July 4. During the holiday, at least six beaches across the US had to close due to unsafe levels of fecal bacteria. Clean water advocates say cuts in the fiscal 2025 federal budget could make the problem worse. Instead, federal clean water programs need a $630 billion boost over the next two decades to keep up with the problem, advocates say. “Now,” Rumpler said, “is not the time to slash the water infrastructure funding that communities sorely need to stop the flow of nasty bacteria and pollution to our beaches.” Reflect: What responsibilities do you think people have when it comes to keeping the environment clean and safe? Gif of a beach from GIPHY.
