What percentage of beaches are polluted?

More than half of the 3,192 coastal and Great Lakes beaches reviewed exceeded the EPA threshold on at least one day they were tested in 2022, including: 48 percent of East Coast beaches. 63 percent of Great Lakes beaches. 84 percent of Gulf Coast beaches.



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The problem is more widespread than many might think: In a new report, the Environment America Research & Policy Center, a nonprofit organization, found that half of U.S. beaches had potentially unsafe contamination levels in 2022.

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Environment America, a national network of 30 state environmental groups, tested over 3,000 beaches across the country and found that a whopping 55% of them had fecal contamination at potentially hazardous levels.

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Beaches With Clear Water: The Best in the United States
  • Waimea Bay Beach Park, Hawaii. ...
  • Crandon Park Beach, Florida. ...
  • Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia. ...
  • Clearwater Beach, Florida. ...
  • Carmel Beach, Carmel by The Sea, California. ...
  • Cannon Beach, Oregon. ...
  • Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada. ...
  • Clear Water, Clear Skies, Good Times.


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According to a recent report from Environment America, 55 percent of the 3,192 beaches around the country that were regularly tested for potential contamination by government researchers in 2022 had potentially unsafe levels of bacteria on at least one testing day.

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Kamilo Beach, located on the south-eastern tip of Hawaii's Big Island, has been dubbed one of the most plastic-polluted spots on the planet.

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Eighty-four percent of Gulf Coast beaches, 70% of West Coast beaches, and 63% of the Great Lakes reached these potentially unsafe levels at least once in 2022.

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Top 5: The Cleanest Beaches in The World
  • HAWAII: Papakolea Beach (AKA Green Sands Beach), Ka'u, Big Island.
  • DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Cayo Levantado Island, Samana Bay.
  • INDIA: Auroville Beach, Pondicherry.
  • PHILIPPINES: El Nido, Palawan.
  • AUSTRALIA: Hardy Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.


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According to a damning new report from Environment America, over half of all U.S. beaches are contaminated with poop. Yep, you read that right. Pollution, overdevelopment, and unsanitary conditions have given many beaches a filthy reputation, making swimming in the water potentially unsafe.

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Naples, Florida Out of 145 oceanside beach towns, Naples, Florida, took the top spot with its sunny weather and low crime rate. Located on Florida's Paradise Coast along the Gulf of Mexico, the town offers lots to see and do, including pristine, white-sand beaches and day trips to nearby Everglades National Park.

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10 Places Where You Can See the Bluest Water in the U.S.
  • 01 of 10. Crater Lake, Oregon. ...
  • 02 of 10. Tenaya Lake, California. ...
  • 03 of 10. Devil's Den, Florida. ...
  • 04 of 10. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii. ...
  • 05 of 10. Lake Tahoe, Nevada and California. ...
  • 06 of 10. Molokini, Hawaii. ...
  • 07 of 10. Jenny Lake, Wyoming. ...
  • 08 of 10. Havasu Falls, Arizona.


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However, if you are ready to travel, here are the five cleanest beaches in the world.
  • Anse Source d'Argent, Seychelles. The Anse Source d'Argent in Seychelles has long been a favorite among photographers from around the world. ...
  • Maya Bay, Thailand. ...
  • Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia. ...
  • Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos.


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“For the most part, swimming in lakes and rivers is relatively safe,” Watts said. “However, there are always going to be some pathogens present in these natural bodies of water, and while most may be relatively harmless, there are some that can be negatively impactful.”

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