(Photo: Getty Images)
How clean is the water at your favorite beach? It's easy to find out thanks to the Natural Resources Defense Council's newly released report on the state of the nation's beaches.
In general, beaches in the Great Lakes region tend to be the dirtiest in the U.S., according to the report, while the Southeast and the Delmarva Peninsula have the highest percentage of clean beaches. Louisiana, Rhode Island, and Illinois had the most reported beach contamination last year, according to the NRDC. Beaches in New Hampshire, Delaware, and Oregon had the least amount of reported contamination.
All told, there were 18,682 beach closing and advisory days last year because of water pollution, according to the report. That's the sixth-highest level since the NRDC began it's annual testing 20 years ago. Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches is based on an analysis of beach water testing results collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2009.
Swimming in water that's been contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and parasites can cause skin rashes, stomach flu, ear nose and eye infections, respiratory illnesses, hepatitis, and other diseases.
The NRDC rated 200 of the most popular beaches in the United States based on the quality of the beach water, how frequently it is monitored, and whether the public was notified about contamination.
Here is a list of the cleanest and dirtiest beaches that the NRDC rated. They're not listed in any particular order.
Cleanest beaches:
- Lafayette Community Club Beach, Minnesota
- Franklin Park at 13th Street on Park Point, Minnesota
- Hampton Beach State Park, New Hampshire
- Wallis Sands Beach at Wallis Road, New Hampshire
- Bolsa Chica State Beach, California
- Huntington City Beach at the Beach Hut, California
- Newport Beach, California
- Salt Creek Beach at Dana Strands, California
- Cardiff State Beach (portions of), California
- Laguna Beach (portions of), California
- Gulf Shores Public Beach, Alabama (As of July 27, this beach has been closed for 53 days because of the BP oil spill.)
Dirtiest beaches:
- Ben T. Davis North, Florida
- Dixie Belle Beach, Florida
- Monument Beach, Florida
- Navarre Park, Florida
- Quietwater Beach, Florida
- Simmons Park, Florida
- Treasure Island Beach, Florida
- Old Orchard Beach, Maine
- Long Sands Beach, Maine
- Short Sands Beach, Maine
- Courthouse Road Beach, Mississippi
- Edgewater Beach, Mississippi
- Front Beach, Mississippi
- Nags Head (one section), North Carolina
- Hamline Beach State Park, New York
- Orchard Beach, New York
- Robert Moses State Park Beach, New York
- Rockaway Beach (sections of), New York
- Coney Island, New York
- Narragansett Town Beach, Rhode Island
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- South Carolina State Park and Campground, South Carolina
- Springmaid Beach, South Carolina
- Surfside Beach, South Carolina
Can't find your beach on this list? Check out the full list on the NRDC's website. If your beach wasn't evaluated, then here are some additional sources of information on beach water testing results as well as tips for avoiding polluted beaches.
The NRDC offers the following suggestions: Don't swim in water that is cloudy or smells bad. Keep your head out of the water when possible. Avoid swimming for at least 24 hours after heavy rains. Choose beaches that are next to open water and avoid those in the middle of highly developed areas when possible.
Impact of the BP oil spill on U.S. beaches
One new element to this year's NRDC report is a special section on how the BP oil spill is impacting beaches in the Gulf region, which the NRDC says has resulted in a significant increase in beach closings and advisories compared to the same time period last year.
So far this year, there have been 2,239 days of beach closings, advisories, and notices in the Gulf region. Beaches in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida have been effected as of July 27. Check this map of current oil spill beach closures to get up-to-date information.
Breathing in sea spray from dispersed oil or vapors can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and eye and throat irritation, and you can get skin rashes if you touch oil, according to the NRDC.
Comments
Leave a comment