Which beach has the most fecal matter?

The beaches with the most poop in the water: Gulf Coast, 84% of beaches unsafe. West Coast, 70% of beaches unsafe. Great Lakes, 63% of beaches unsafe.



Determining which beach has the "most" fecal matter is difficult because water quality fluctuates daily based on rainfall, sewage overflows, and runoff. However, organizations like "Heal the Bay" and various environmental protection agencies frequently flag certain locations as high-risk. Historically, beaches near large urban centers with aging drainage systems, such as Santa Monica Pier in California or parts of Blackpool in the UK, often see high Enterococcus levels after heavy storms. In the 2026 "Beach Bummer" report, areas near the Tijuana River mouth in San Diego frequently top the list due to ongoing transboundary sewage issues. Fecal contamination is typically measured by "Colony Forming Units" (CFU) of bacteria like E. coli. Travelers should always check local "Beach Report Cards" before swimming, especially near storm drains or piers, as high bacteria levels can lead to skin rashes, ear infections, and gastrointestinal illness. The "dirtiest" beach today might be perfectly clean tomorrow once the tide goes out and the sun's UV rays neutralize the bacteria.

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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. A tool on the Environment America website shows state-by-state data if you want to see how your local beaches stack up.

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Fecal contamination comes from urban runoff, sewage overflows and manure from industrial livestock production.

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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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When these animals defecate the microbes are carried out of the body on the fecal matter. Sewage spills, sewage overflows, and contaminated stormwater send microbe-containing fecal matter into rivers, lakes, and storm drains which eventually flow into the ocean.

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You can get sick with diarrhea if you swallow contaminated water in pools, hot tubs, splash pads, oceans, lakes, or rivers. In fact, diarrhea is the most common illness reported for outbreaks linked to water in these places.

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Distance from sediment sources: Beaches located far from major sediment sources, such as rivers or coastal erosion, tend to have clearer water. Sediments suspended in the water, including particles like sand, silt, or clay, can decrease water clarity and make it appear murky.

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Another potential threat beachgoers should be aware of in Florida is Vibrio vulnificus — rare species of so-called flesh-eating bacteria found in raw shellfish or seawater. The dangerous strain of vibrio bacteria has been linked to five deaths in Florida this year, state health officials said.

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Nonprofit group Environment Texas found that 90% of Texas beaches tested in 2022 for fecal bacteria tested positive at least one day. Pathogens in fecal matter pose a health risk to swimmers, sometimes forcing beaches to close for public safety.

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Some cities also have joint sewer and stormwater systems that can overflow—this leads to “a mixture of raw, untreated sewage and stormwater” that can sometimes flow onto recreational beaches, said Rumpler. Runoff water from large farms can sometimes also contaminate beaches, he added, as can feces from wildlife.

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Here is a list of the ten dirtiest beaches in the world.
  • 8 Serendipity Beach, Cambodia.
  • 7 Guanabara Bay, Brazil.
  • 6 Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
  • 5 Juhu Beach, India.
  • 4 Kuta Beach, Indonesia.
  • 3 Kamilo Beach, Hawaii, USA.
  • 2 Maya Bay, Thailand.
  • 1 Phu Quoc, Vietnam.


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The Weddell Sea has been claimed by scientists to have the clearest waters of any ocean in the world. Described by a historian as “the most wretched and dismal region on earth”, due to the flash freezes that caught Shackleton's ship, its clarity is only belied by the sheer depth of the ocean below.

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