An incredible amount of fecal contamination has been found in many coastal U.S. waterways, including popular swimming beaches. Recent sampling of water sites around the nation has discovered that 19% of the 9,095 water samples tested demonstrated unsafe levels of fecal contamination. Out of the 496 sites that were sampled, 301—representing 61%—had at least one sample from the previous year that exceeded the recreational water health standard.

The primary source of this contamination is stormwater runoff from streets and sewers. The infrastructure of many older cities combines rainwater runoff, sewage, and industrial wastewater into a single pipe. During heavy rains, sewage treatment plants can become overwhelmed and end up discharging untreated sewage directly into the water.

Sewer overflows are common not just in coastal areas, but also in regions around the Great Lakes. In rural and suburban zones, water contamination is often traced back to private septic systems, which drain liquid waste into a field. When it rains, these septic systems and cesspools can leach the feces out into local waterways, contributing to the contamination problem.

Exposure to fecal pollution can lead to a range of health risks, including rashes, ear, nose, and throat infections, and gastrointestinal issues. Individuals with open wounds who swim in contaminated waters are also at risk of infections. In some instances, a clear line can be drawn from water contamination to infections. For example, southwestern Florida experienced an outbreak of Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially deadly “flesh-eating” bacteria, following sewage spills caused by Hurricane Ian.

While many state or local governments claim to monitor the presence of bacteria in the water at heavily used beaches experts argue that current monitoring efforts are inadequate as many beaches are not tested frequently enough or at all. Some recommendations for beachgoers include avoiding swimming at a beach during or within three days following wet weather, not swimming near stagnant water near piers or jetties, and being cautious not to swim near flowing storm drains or rivers where bacteria-filled runoff may be discharged.

Some proposed measures to deal with these issues include planting street trees and developing green infrastructure to lessen the burden of stormwater that enters the system, such as rooftop gardens and other diversions for stormwater to soak into the ground and not become runoff.

Photo by Joe Dudeck