Updated August 2026
US beaches that exceed bacteria limits most often
Pleasure Beach-Bridgeport in Fairfield County, Connecticut currently sits at the top — Grade F, 95.4% of samples over the EPA limit across 414 results. 486 graded beaches earn a D and 352 earn an F. The top 50 span 7 states, led by Florida with 17. A high rate flags a pattern, not a same-day closure.
| # | Grade | Beach | State | County | % over limit | Samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Pleasure Beach-BridgeportFairfield County, Connecticut | Connecticut | Fairfield | 95.4% | 414 |
| 2 | F | Mission Bay, De Anza CoveSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 94.7% | 113 |
| 3 | F | Belleair Beach - Morgan DrivePinellas County, Florida | Florida | Pinellas | 92.2% | 128 |
| 4 | F | Seabright BeachFairfield County, Connecticut | Connecticut | Fairfield | 91.4% | 255 |
| 5 | F | Tecolote ShoresSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 91.3% | 115 |
| 6 | F | Shell Road Access #1Sarasota County, Florida | Florida | Sarasota | 89.7% | 136 |
| 7 | F | Seaside Park BeachFairfield County, Connecticut | Connecticut | Fairfield | 87.8% | 246 |
| 8 | F | Imperial Beach Municipal Beach, OtherSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 84.9% | 4,015 |
| 9 | F | Walnut BeachNew Haven County, Connecticut | Connecticut | New Haven | 83.4% | 229 |
| 10 | F | Honeymoon Island Causeway (South)Pinellas County, Florida | Florida | Pinellas | 83.2% | 416 |
| 11 | F | Coronado Cays (Nr)San Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 82.7% | 2,114 |
| 12 | F | Ben T. Davis NorthHillsborough County, Florida | Florida | Hillsborough | 82.4% | 1,095 |
| 13 | F | Harbor Island BeachWestchester County, New York | New York | Westchester | 81.9% | 226 |
| 14 | F | Mission Bay, Riviera ShoresSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 81.3% | 75 |
| 15 | F | Bayside ParkSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 78.8% | 156 |
| 16 | F | Bird Key Park A.K.A Ringling CausewaySarasota County, Florida | Florida | Sarasota | 78.6% | 1,099 |
| 17 | F | Spanish Landing ParkSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 76.7% | 60 |
| 18 | F | Coconut Point ParkBrevard County, Florida | Florida | Brevard | 76.3% | 97 |
| 19 | F | Dunedin Marina BeachPinellas County, Florida | Florida | Pinellas | 76.2% | 210 |
| 20 | F | Mission Bay, Ventura CoveSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 75.7% | 226 |
| 21 | F | Coronado North BeachSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 74.6% | 3,125 |
| 22 | F | Compo BeachFairfield County, Connecticut | Connecticut | Fairfield | 74.2% | 233 |
| 23 | F | LeucadiaSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 72.4% | 221 |
| 24 | F | Mission Bay, North Pacific PassageSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 72.1% | 222 |
| 25 | F | Silver Strand State BeachSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 71.3% | 1,076 |
| 26 | F | Siesta Key Public BeachSarasota County, Florida | Florida | Sarasota | 70.2% | 114 |
| 27 | F | Collins CoveEssex County, Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Essex | 69.7% | 66 |
| 28 | F | Courtney Campbell CausewayPinellas County, Florida | Florida | Pinellas | 68.7% | 460 |
| 29 | F | Southport BeachFairfield County, Connecticut | Connecticut | Fairfield | 65.5% | 458 |
| 30 | F | Sandy Beach (Danvers)Essex County, Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Essex | 65.1% | 109 |
| 31 | F | Burying Hill BeachFairfield County, Connecticut | Connecticut | Fairfield | 64.6% | 161 |
| 32 | F | Oceanside Harbor - Riv San Luis ReySan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 64% | 683 |
| 33 | F | Eastern Point BeachNew London County, Connecticut | Connecticut | New London | 63.1% | 179 |
| 34 | F | Treasure Island BeachPinellas County, Florida | Florida | Pinellas | 62.8% | 188 |
| 35 | F | Tijuana Slough National Wildlife RefugeSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 62.5% | 2,561 |
| 36 | F | Carlsbad State BeachSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 61.8% | 319 |
| 37 | F | Des Moines MarinaKing County, Washington | Washington | King | 61.1% | 72 |
| 38 | F | WhiteEssex County, Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Essex | 60.8% | 102 |
| 39 | F | Mission Bay, San Juan CoveSan Diego County, California | California | San Diego | 60.7% | 61 |
| 40 | F | Willow AvenueEssex County, Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Essex | 60.6% | 66 |
| 41 | F | Redfish PointSanta Rosa County, Florida | Florida | Santa Rosa | 60.4% | 96 |
| 42 | F | 5th Avenue South BeachCollier County, Florida | Florida | Collier | 59.8% | 224 |
| 43 | F | Dane StreetEssex County, Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Essex | 59.8% | 92 |
| 44 | F | Canova Beach ParkBrevard County, Florida | Florida | Brevard | 58.4% | 154 |
| 45 | F | George English ParkBroward County, Florida | Florida | Broward | 57.1% | 1,650 |
| 46 | F | BrackenburyEssex County, Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Essex | 57.1% | 84 |
| 47 | F | Private Shoreline Beach-East Arm S/W CornerGrand Traverse County, Michigan | Michigan | Grand Traverse | 56.8% | 361 |
| 48 | F | Stickney Point Access #12Sarasota County, Florida | Florida | Sarasota | 55.9% | 118 |
| 49 | F | Venice Public BeachSarasota County, Florida | Florida | Sarasota | 55.7% | 230 |
| 50 | F | 17th Avenue South BeachCollier County, Florida | Florida | Collier | 55.4% | 260 |
Grade labels: Excellent (A) through Failing (F). A letter is a multi-year bacteria record, not a same-day swim clearance.
The inverse list — beaches whose samples almost never cross the limit — is the cleanest beaches in the US. State-by-state rankings live under beaches by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pleasure Beach-Bridgeport in Fairfield County, Connecticut currently ranks first, with 95.4% of 414 samples over the EPA Beach Action Value (Grade F).
It means a large share of routine bacteria samples came back above the Beach Action Value — the threshold at which water managers typically post a swimming advisory. A Grade F beach exceeds that limit a large share of the time across the monitored years. It does not mean the water is unsafe every day.
Of 3,000 graded beaches, 486 earn a D and 352 earn an F. This table shows the 50 high-confidence records with the highest exceedance rates.
A high exceedance rate is a planning signal, not a permanent closure. Many of these beaches are under advisory more often after rain or near storm-drain outfalls. Check the official advisory the day you go, and prefer open, well-flushed water after storms.
Know before you go
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