State Officials Warn Swimmers of Rising Bacteria Levels at Beaches

Officials across several states advise checking local water-quality advisories before heading to beaches this summer. High bacteria levels have led to beach closures and health alerts in states including Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington state.

Data from last summer reveals concerning contamination statistics. The Environment America Research & Policy Center found that 61% of U.S. beaches posed potential health risks due to unsafe contamination levels in 2024. Contaminants include fecal matter from urban runoff, sewage overflows, and pathogens from factory farms.

Iowa Beach Warnings

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) cautions against swimming at multiple beaches. These include Backbone Beach, Pine Lake South Beach, Geode Lake Beach, Union Grove Beach, Pleasant Creek Beach, and Nine Eagles Beach due to elevated E. coli levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), E. coli is typically harmless and part of a healthy intestinal tract. However, some strains may cause severe health issues, particularly for young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems.

The Iowa DNR provides updates via an online beach-monitoring page. This page reports the status of beaches as suitable for swimming, not recommended for swimming, closed, or displaying insufficient data.

Massachusetts Beach Closures

This month, Massachusetts closed several beaches to swimmers due to high bacteria levels, toxic blue-green algae, and other issues. Affected sites include Damon Pond Beach, Cliff Pond beaches, Cochituate State Park, College Pond, Fearings Pond beaches, Forest River, and Juniper Point. NBC Boston has reported these closures.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health offers an Interactive Beach Water Quality Dashboard. This dashboard updates hourly throughout the beach season.

Washington State Beach Advisories

Several beaches in Washington are on a permanent swimming advisory list, indicating unsafe water conditions. Affected locations include Freeland County Park/Holmes Harbor, Walker County Park, Squaxin Park, Little Squalicum Park, West Bay Park, and Thea Foss Waterway.

Lake Meridian Park is currently closed due to high bacteria levels, as announced by the City of Kent. Washington’s official beach advisory map warns of increased bacteria levels, with advisories issued by local health departments.

E. Coli Infection Symptoms

Symptoms of E. coli infection may involve diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and fever. Severe cases can result in dehydration, according to the CDC.

Teresa Mull, part of the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital, contributed to this report.