{"id":407197,"date":"2026-07-21T23:14:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T23:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/407197\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T23:14:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T23:14:15","slug":"california-beach-dubbed-one-of-nations-dirtiest-with-states-highest-bacteria-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/407197\/","title":{"rendered":"California beach dubbed one of nation\u2019s dirtiest \u2014 with state\u2019s highest bacteria levels"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has a real poo-nami.<\/p>\n

Those seeking fun in the sun might want to steer clear of Imperial Beach \u2014 the working class SoCal enclave was one of the most bacteria-ridden beaches in the US, per a study by the Surfrider<\/a> Foundation.<\/p>\n

Imperial beach placed fourth nationally, with bacteria levels exceeding state health standards in 89% of samples collected over the last year.<\/p>\n

As of July 21, the stretch of sand remains closed to swimmers and bathers “due to an imminent health threat associated with a sewage or chemical spill,” according to environmental watchdog San Diego Coastkeeper.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Justin<\/p>\n

Justin Hamlin, left, and Maddie Tibayan, walk along the Imperial Beach pier after gathering a sample of seawater as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. AP<\/p>\n

This closure affects the “ocean shoreline from the south end of Seacoast Drive to north of Carnation Avenue,” per the advisory.<\/p>\n

Imperial Beach is one of the many San Diego beaches that’s affected by sewage runoff from Tijuana, a problem driven by the bordertown’s booming population<\/a> and failed wastewater treatment efforts on both sides of the border.<\/p>\n

The scourge has become so severe that Imperial Beach residents have reported headaches, asthma and rashes after water exposure, while airborne pollutants from the Tijuana River have even prompted “rainy day schedules<\/a>” at local schools during particularly polluted conditions.<\/p>\n

Officials hope conditions will improve. In 2025, a new water quality monitoring lab was established at the coastal hub thanks to a joint effort by the San Diego Chapter’s BWTF Clean Border Water Now programs and the local YMCA’s Camp Surf.<\/p>\n

\"Imperial<\/p>\n

Imperial Beach is contaminated by sewage flowing up from Tijuana. The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\"Trent<\/p>\n

Trent Fry, right, and Leila El Masri handle a water sample of the Tijuana River, as part of a research team from the University of California, San Diego, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in San Diego. AP<\/p>\n

The findings from the Surfrider Foundation’s 2025 Clean Water Report, which analyzed over 10,000 water samples that were collected from 620 distinct sampling sites across the nation and processed by 60 Blue Water Task Force labs.<\/p>\n

They then narrowed down the 10 Beach Bacteria Hot Spots from the East Coast, West Coast, and Hawai’i, where Surfrider Foundation branches are “consistently measuring high bacteria levels that exceed state health standards for recreational waters.”<\/p>\n

“These Beach Bacteria Hot Spots represent a variety of recreational waters and access points that are important to local communities, yet water quality conditions could be putting public health at risk,” they wrote.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the so-called pristine Hawaiian islands had the two biggest marine microbe-breweries.<\/p>\n

Tying for first were Punalu\u02bbu Beach Park, Chings on Oahu, Hawaii, and Moloa’a Stream Mouth in Moloa’a Beach, Kaua’i, Hawai’i, which both boasted bacteria rates of 100%. At Moloa’a, 0% of samples collected over the last 12 months met water quality standards set by\u00a0Hawaii State Department of Health.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Imperial Beach wasn’t California’s only marine mecca to make the list. Linda Mar Beach in the city of Pacifica placed second in the state, boasting a bacteria rate of 72 percent.<\/p>\n

Water quality experts suspect that the culprit could be a leak in their obsolete sewer mains<\/a> from the 70s.<\/p>\n

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