This List of the Dirtiest Beaches in America Is Here to Ruin Your Vacation

From Country Living

Summer is all fun and games until you find out there's fecal bacteria contaminating your local beach.

That's exactly what's happening at public swimming areas around the country according to John Rumpler, the clean water program director at the Environment America Research and Policy Center.

The center released a study in July that examined dangerous bacteria levels at beaches in 29 coastal and Great Lakes states. The study shows the number of days in 2018 that the water had fecal bacteria counts exceeding Environmental Protection Agency standards, which can put swimmers at risk of getting sick.

"It's hard to believe that 47 years after we passed the Clean Water Act that we are still concerned with poop in the water when people want to go swimming," Rumpler told USA Today.

Nearly 60 percent of the 4,523 beaches tested nationwide had dangerously high contamination levels in the water on at least one occasion.

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While most states prioritize shutting down public swimming areas and posting warning signs to beachgoers when pollution levels are high, you should check water quality reports before hitting the sand.

Did your favorite summer hangout make the list of the dirtiest beaches? See below to find out.

Alabama

• Fairhope Public Beach, Baldwin

• Dog River, Alba Club, Mobile

• Camp Beckwith, Baldwin

• Volanta Avenue, Baldwin

• Orange Street Pier, Baldwin

California

• Inner Cabrillo Beach, Los Angeles

• Coronado Ave. Beach, Los Angeles

• Salt Creek Beach, Orange

• Molino Avenue Beach, Los Angeles

• 5th Place Beach, Los Angeles

Connecticut

• Byram Beach (South), Fairfield

• Byram Beach (North), Fairfield

• Seaside Park Beach (Southernmost), Fairfield

• Seaside Park Beach (South), Fairfield

• Seaside Park Beach (Mid), Fairfield

Delaware

• Slaughter Beach, Sussex

• Fenwick Island State Park Beach, Sussex

• Rehoboth Beach, Sussex

• Broadkill Beach, Sussex

• Lewes Beach North, Sussex

Florida

• Bayou Texar, Escambia

• Sanders Beach, Escambia

• Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade

• Bird Key Park, Sarasota

• Venice Fishing Pier, Sarasota

Georgia

• St. Simons Island Lighthouse, Glynn

• Skidaway Narrows, Chatham

• Kings Ferry, Chatham

• Tybee Island, Polk St., Chatham

• Jekyll Driftwood Beach, Glynn

Hawaii

• Keehi Lagoon (North), Honolulu

• Keehi Lagoon (South), Honolulu

• Punaluu Beach Park, Honolulu

• MS2 (Kapoho Point), Honolulu

• Kalihi Channel, Honolulu

Illinois

• South Shore Beach, Cook

• Calumet South Beach, Cook

• 63rd Street Beach, Cook

• Rogers Avenue Park Beach, Cook

• Howard Street Park Beach, Cook

Indiana

• Jeorse Park Beach I, Lake

• Jeorse Park Beach II, Lake

• Buffington Harbor Beach, Lake

• Indiana Dunes State Park East Beach, Porter

• Washington Park Beach, LaPorte

Louisiana

• North Beach, Calcasieu

• Cypremort Point State Park, St. Mary

• Fontainebleau State Park, St. Tammany

• Rutherford Beach, Cameron

• Holly Beach 4, Cameron

Maine

• Goose Rocks Beach – Site 5, York

• Goose Rocks Beach – Site 1, York

• Willard Beach, Cumberland

• Ogunquit Beach, York

• Kennebunk Beach, York

Maryland

• Camp Pecometh, Kent

• Public Landing Beach near Snow Hill, Worcester

• Ocean City Beach 1, Worcester

• Purse State Park, Charles

• Ferry Park, Kent

Massachusetts

• Nahant Bay at Eastern Ave, Essex

• Tenean Beach, Suffolk

• Nahant Bay at Pierce Road, Essex

• Nahant Bay at Kimball Road, Essex