31 Texas beaches have unsafe water quality for at least 1 out of 4 sampling days, study finds

The number of Texas beaches that had hazardous water quality for at least one out of four sampling days in 2020 was 31, according to a new analysis of bacteria data in 29 coastal and Great Lakes States as well as Puerto Rico.

Beaches in the state that were tested for fecal indicator bacteria in 2020 numbered 61, the Environment America Research & Policy Center reported in its water quality report this month.

In Nueces County, Cole Park was cited as having one of the highest percentages of potentially unsafe swimming days statewide in 2020: 91%.

Nationwide, more than one of every 10 beaches tested for bacteria levels was potentially hazardous to swimmers on at least one-quarter of the days that sampling took place last year, the study found. Beach pollution can happen as a result of runoff from paved surfaces, overflows from sewage treatment plants and pollution from livestock operations, the report states.

Waterborne illnesses resulting from swimming in oceans, lakes and other bodies of water affect 57 million Americans annually, according to Environment America.

Gulf Coast beaches had the highest potential of testing unsafe for at least a single day in 2020: 82%. For West Coast beaches, the percentage was 72%; Great Lakes beaches, 60%; and East Coast beaches, 47%.

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Incidence of Unsafe Water Quality at State Beaches in 2020

Source: Environment America Research & Policy Center