61% of US Beaches Test Positive for Fecal Contamination in 2024

In 2025, water contamination has become a significant health concern at popular beaches both in Mexico and the United States. Mexico's Cofepris identified 16 beaches, including three in Puerto Vallarta, as unsafe due to extremely high levels of fecal enterococci, a bacteria linked to sewage pollution, which poses risks of gastrointestinal, dermatological, and respiratory infections. The contamination stems mainly from untreated sewage, stormwater runoff, and inadequate waste management. Similarly, in the U.S., a report by Environment America revealed that over 60% of tested beaches nationwide, including coastal and Great Lakes areas, had potentially unsafe levels of fecal bacteria, affecting millions of swimmers yearly. Experts and lawmakers urge expanded funding and infrastructure improvements through legislative acts like the BEACH Act to enhance water quality monitoring and reduce pollution. These findings highlight a pressing need for coordinated governmental action to protect public health and preserve recreational water sites.