On June 25, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released its 24th annual beach report, finding 35 “superstar” beaches and 17 “repeat offenders.” According to the report, 10% of water quality samples collected last year from nearly 3500 coastal and Great Lakes beaches in the U.S. contained bacteria levels that failed to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s most protective benchmark for swimmer safety. According to the NRDC, stormwater runoff and sewage overflows historically are the largest contributing factor.

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An infographic from NRDC on how natural solutions can help keep beaches clean.

An infographic from NRDC on how natural solutions can help keep beaches clean. Click to enlarge.

The report, “Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches,” collects and analyzes the latest water testing results from the EPA and state beach coordinators at nearly 3500 beach testing locations nationwide. It examines the various causes of water pollution plaguing U.S. beaches and presents opportunities to better manage water pollution. Along with the report, NRDC created an updated, mobile-friendly map of beaches searchable by zip code, making it easy for users to check important water quality information at their local beaches. According to the report, the Great Lakes region had the highest failure rate of beach water quality samples, with 13% failing in 2013. The Delmarva region in Maryland had the lowest failure rate, with 4% of samples failing the safety test. Read more and see NRDC designated superstar and repeat offender beaches.

 

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