For the sixth year in a row, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRCD) has released a report on water quality at the United States ocean and Great Lakes beaches. Water quality reported from over 3,400 beaches makes up the report. Beaches can easily be contaminated by gut bacteria from overflowing sewage systems; indeed, over 3.5 million people become sick from contact with sewage tainted waters every year.

The Environmental Protection Agency sets a maximum concentration of gut bacteria, and the NRCD bases its state ranking on the percentage of reports that show concentrations above that criteria. Here are the five worst states for beach water quality, out of 30 states with ocean or Great Lakes beaches:

1. Ohio. There are 63 Lake Erie beaches in Ohio along 53 miles of shoreline, and these beaches frequently show elevated levels of bacteria. Samples from some beaches in the Cleveland area exceed EPA bacteria levels over 60% of the time.

2. Alaska. OK, Alaska is not your typical beach state, but it does have 25 beaches where people take advantage of the short summer to kayak, fish or simply walk on the beach. Few are monitored regularly, but beaches around Kenai are particularly problematic.

3. Mississippi. Beaches in Mississippi are found along 43 miles of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico. Problem beaches occur all along the coast line, but are worst in Bay St. Louis and Gulfport.

4. Maine. This state has seen a declining water quality at its beaches in the last 5 years.

Waters exceeding bacterial count thresholds are found around Rockport and Camden on the central coast, near Portland, and on the beaches of York County in the southern part of the state.  

5. Louisiana. Most of this state’s shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico consists in wetlands, but there are 30 miles of beaches, from which 19% of water samples had a high bacteria count.

Most beach pollution problems stem from untreated sewage overflows, which can be associated with poorly designed storm water systems. When exposed to this pollution, swimmers can develop gastroenteritis, skin rashes, pinkeye, and respiratory infections. The most effective methods to improve beach water quality involve reducing and controlling rainfall runoff. Permeable driveways, green roofs, street plantings, and managed wetlands can all slow down and filter runoff.  

Source

Natural Resources Defense Council. Testing the Waters 2014: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches.

See Also
Water Quality: The Best Beach States in the U.S.