A national report released July 8 warns that more work is needed to ensure that all waters are safe for swimming, including at the south beach along the Palma Sola Causeway.
To assess beach safety, the Environment America Research & Policy Center and the Frontier Group examined whether fecal indicator bacteria levels exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s most protective “Beach Action Value,” which is associated with an estimated illness rate of 32 out of every 1,000 swimmers.
In 2024, 453 U.S. beaches were potentially unsafe for swimming on at least 25% of the days tested, according to “Safe for Swimming?” report.
Also, more than half of the 3,187 coastal and Great Lakes beaches reviewed exceeded the EPA threshold on at least one day they were tested in 2024, including:
- 54% of East Coast beaches;
- 71% of Great Lakes beaches;
- 84% of Gulf Coast beaches
- 79% of West Coast beaches.
In Florida, there were 243 beaches tested for fecal bacteria in 2024. About 5% of the beaches had potentially unsafe levels on at least 25% of all days tested. About 58% of the beaches tested had potentially unsafe levels on at least one testing day.
Bruce Beach in Escambia County had the most potentially unsafe test days at 36, followed by Palma Sola’s south beach in Manatee County at 20 potentially unsafe test days.
People who swim in polluted waters can get sick; illnesses include nausea, diarrhea, ear infections and rashes.
The report recommended investments to stop sewage overflows and runoff pollution, including investments in nature-based solutions such as vegetated buffers, rain barrels and constructed wetlands.
The report was released as Congress considers funding for the main federal program to stop sewer overflows.
“Enjoying the fresh sea breeze and splash of waves at the beach is a highlight of the summer for many Americans, but pollution still plagues too many of the places where we swim,” said John Rumpler, clean water director for Environment America Research & Policy Center and a co-author of the report. “Now is not the time to slash the water infrastructure funding that communities sorely need to stop the flow of nasty bacteria and pollution to our beaches.”
On the web
Find the report here.