As many head to the beaches for the Fourth of July, elevated bacterial contamination has prompted advisories across popular U.S. coastal areas, disrupting holiday plans and sparking public health concerns.
At a Glance
● High levels of bacterial contamination have forced advisories and closures at numerous beaches across the U.S. ahead of the July 4th holiday.
● States from New York and Massachusetts to California and the Great Lakes are affected.
● The primary cause is stormwater runoff from recent heavy rainfall, which washes waste into recreational waters.
● Health officials warn that swimming in contaminated water can cause gastrointestinal illness, as well as skin, ear, and eye infections.
A Health Warning for Holiday Beachgoers
Americans heading to the beach to celebrate the Fourth of July are being met with unwelcome news: dozens of popular beaches across the country have been hit with closures and health advisories due to high levels of bacterial contamination in the water.
The public health warnings are disrupting holiday plans in numerous states, including New York, Massachusetts, California, Washington, Illinois, and Michigan. According to USA Today, the advisories range from full closures to recommendations against swimming, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.
The Cause: Stormwater Runoff
The primary culprit behind the widespread contamination is stormwater runoff.
Heavy rainfall in many parts of the country has washed contaminants from sewage systems, septic tanks, and agricultural areas into rivers and coastal waters. This runoff contains high levels of indicator bacteria, like Enterococcus, which signals the presence of fecal contamination.
As noted by ABC News, another concern in warmer coastal waters is the Vibrio bacteria, which can cause a serious illness known as vibriosis. Health officials have stressed that swimming in water where “bacteria levels exceed health standards” can lead to a range of illnesses.
Local Beaches Impacted
The impact is being felt on both coasts. In New York, Suffolk County health officials have been forced to close several beaches, including Benjamin Beach and Sayville Marina Park Beach, due to “bacteria at levels in excess of acceptable criteria.”
Beach bacteria warnings plague Fourth of July weekend plans nationwide https://t.co/tppPHgMza1
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 2, 2025
In neighboring Nassau County, officials are advising against swimming at some beaches for the same reason.
In Massachusetts, nearly 20 beaches were forced to close to swimming ahead of the holiday weekend. The situation serves as a stark reminder that extreme weather events can have a direct and immediate impact on public health and recreation.
