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The Travel Detective

Don’t Go There: Polluted Beaches

It’s hard to beat a great day at the beach with the sun, the waves and the sand. But not every shore is as inviting as it looks.

In fact, there are a lot of beaches in the United States that you should avoid altogether. It all comes down to water quality.
The EPA estimates that as many as 3.5 million people get sick every year from swimming in water that’s been contaminated by raw sewage.
Which beaches are some of the biggest offenders?
Malibu Pier in Los Angeles, Jeorse Park Beach in Lake County, Indiana and Beachwood Beach in Ocean County, New Jersey are just a few. These are beaches that have experienced dangerous levels of polluted water, which can cause illnesses like stomach flu, pinkeye, and even hepatitis.
But remember, no beach is 100% safe. As a rule, you should never go swimming right after a big storm. Heavy rains can overload sewers and send untreated wastewater pouring into lakes and oceans.
If you have any doubts about the water the next time you’re at the beach, you can always stay put on the sand–sipping your cold drink and soaking in those rays.
By Peter Greenberg for PeterGreenberg.com