Top 10 dirtiest beaches in America
Sea, sand, fun. As long as you slather on the sunscreen, a day at the beach is one healthy, wholesome experience, right?
Maybe not if you're headed to one of the heavily polluted beaches identified by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The environmental advocacy group says germy, chemical-laden water at the beaches can make people sick. Keep clicking to see 10 dirty beaches that have repeatedly failed the council's clean water tests...
Avalon Beach, California
Located at the southernmost tip of Los Angeles county, Avalon Beach was found to be particularly dirty near Busy B Cafe, and north and south of GP Pier.
Ropes Park, Texas
This Nueces County beach can blame combined sewer overflow and stormwater for its high levels of pollution. At left is an image submitted to the NRDC of pollution at another Texas beach.
Cabrillo Beach Station, California
Cabrillo Beach is the second in Los Angeles County to make the list of offenders.
Villa Angela State Park, Ohio
In Cuyahoga County, Villa Angela State Park was monitored daily and its waters were found to have consistently high bacteria levels. At left is an image from the NRDC of the type of pollution that can be found at the beach.
Doheny State Beach, California
In Orange County, Doheny State Beach was found to have especially polluted water north of San Juan Creek and by the Surf Zone at Outfall.
South Shore Beach, Wisconsin
This Milwaukee County beach is the second in Wisconsin to make the most-polluted list.
Beachwood Beach West, New Jersey
Although the New York-New Jersey coast was one of the cleanest in the 2010 study, Beachwood Beach West, a small beach on the Jersey shore, proved one of the dirtiest in the country. Stormwater and wildlife are the EPA's best guesses for potential pollution sources.
Keaton Beach, Florida
Keaton Beach, located in Taylor County, is suspected to be polluted primarily by boats, surface runoff, animal waste (namely bird poop), and stormwater.
North Point Marina North Beach, Illinois
North Point Marina is located in Lake County on Lake Michigan. It is the largest marina on the Great Lakes - no wonder its beach is so polluted.
Eichelman Beach, Wisconsin
Located in Kenosha County along the West Shore of Lake Michigan, Eichelman Beach has high pollution levels, probably due to stormwater and wildlife. At left is an image from the NRDC demonstrating the beginning of stormwater pollution.