Bacteria hot spots: Beaches in San Diego, Pacifica. San Luis Obispo make the dirty list
The Surfrider Foundation's annual Clean Water Report includes their top "ten beach bacteria hot spots," recreational beaches where "testing consistently reveals dangerous levels of fecal bacteria that threaten the health of swimmers, surfers, and families."
The group's Blue Water Task Force (BWTF), the largest volunteer-run beach water testing program in the U.S processed over 10,000 water samples last year to measure bacteria levels at more than 600 locations across the country.
In California alone, more than 2000 samples were taken.
Eighty percent of the beaches Surfrider analyzed for the report — 483 out of 604 — exceeded state health standards at least once in 2024, and 25% of all samples measured high bacteria levels, up from 22% in 2023.
"Across the country, Surfrider's BWTF programs are measuring high bacteria levels at a concerning number ofbeaches and recreational waterways where stormwater runoff and failing sewage infrastructure are polluting the water," stated the report.
Stormwater runoff has long been the number one cause of beach closures and swimming advisories in the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 5 million people get sick from swimming in contaminated water each year.
"Everyone deserves access to clean water to surf, swim, and play in. That's why Surfrider advocates for strong laws and sufficient funding to monitor and protect water quality." Mara Dias, Surfrider's Water Quality Initiative Senior Manager stated in a media release.
"When we see information gaps in government testing programs that leave public health unprotected, we seek to meet those community needs with our Blue Water Task Force water quality monitoring program."
California has some of the busiest beaches in the country, logging more than 150 million day visits by tourists and locals.
The visitor traffic generates over $10 billion each year for the state, so a clean beach is vital not just for people and the fragile coastal ecosystem, but for California's bottom line.
A popular beach for surfing, playing volleyball, horseback riding, and walking out along its fabled pier, Imperial Beach in San Diego also has a load of bacteria.
The report showed that 82% of samples collected at Imperial Beach "resulted in bacteria counts exceeding the state health standard for recreational waters."
The crescent-shaped Linda Mar Beach, located at the mouth of San Pedro Valley in Pacifica offers many recreation opportunities. There are private surf camps, biking and walking trails, and places to rent kayaks and surfboards. Whale watching is popular in the spring.
Seventy-one percent of water samples collected at Linda Mar Beach exceeded safe bacterial levels.
A beach in San Luis Obispo County popular with families made the dirty list.
San Luis Creek Mouth at Avila Beach had 38% of its samples come back with high levels of bacteria.
'The reason why this is concerning is because there at the creek mouth is often where families will set up with small kids,' Dias told KCBX.FM.
We have all been to the beach and seen people wade into the water even when there is a sign advising people not to enter. Do not be that person.
To best protect your own and your family's health, Surfrider Foundation urges beachgoers to check local water quality conditions before heading to the beach.
And if you see a sign—posted advisories are usually placed at the beach and often along access points to the beach saying that swimming may cause illness, according to the California State Water Resources Control Board. Don't go in and sunbathe instead.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: New study: Three California beaches are 'bacteria hot spots'
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