Beach bums beware : 10 % of water samples collected from U.S. beaches failed to meet the government benchmark for swimmer safety , according to a new report . It 's an icky thought , especially considering the popularity of several of the failing beaches included in the Natural Resources Defense Council 's 24th annual `` Testing the Waters '' report . Beach choices matter : the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates up to 3.5 million people become ill from poor water treatment each year , largely because of contact with `` raw sewage from sanitary overflows . '' `` Sewage and contaminated runoff in the water should never ruin a family beach trip , '' said NRDC senior attorney Jon Devine in a statement . `` But no matter where you live , urban slobber and other pollution can seriously compromise the water quality at your favorite beach and make your family sick . '' So which beaches are `` superstars '' and which are `` repeat offenders '' ? Here 's the good , the bad and the ugly . The good . At 4 % , the eastern coastline comprised of beaches in Delaware , Maryland and Virginia boasts the lowest failure rate of beach water samples in the country . All samples were tested against the new EPA water quality standard , called the `` Beach Action Value . '' For individual states , Delaware , New Jersey and New Hampshire tied for the top marks , each with a 3 % failure rate . Additionally , the NRDC selected 35 beaches as `` superstars '' -- meaning popular spots that consistently meet water quality safety thresholds . These locations spanned 14 states and showed at least a 98 % water safety record over five years : . -- Alabama : Gulf Shores Public Beach in Baldwin County , Gulf State Park Pavilion in Baldwin County , Dauphin Island Public Beach . -- California : Newport Beach in Orange County ( one of three monitored sections ) . -- Delaware : Dewey Beach-Swedes in Sussex County . -- Florida : Bowman 's Beach in Lee County , Coquina Beach South in Manatee County , Fort De Soto North Beach in Pinellas County . -- Georgia : Tybee Island North in Chatham County . -- Hawaii : Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area on the Big Island , Po'ipu Beach Park on Kauai , Wailea Beach Park on Maui . -- Massachusetts : Singing Beach in Essex County . -- Maryland : Point Lookout State Park in St Mary 's County , Assateague State Park in Worcester County . -- North Carolina : Ocean Pier at Main Street and Sunset Boulevard in Brunswick County , Beach at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Dare County , Ocean Pier at Salisbury Street at Wrightsville Beach in New Hanover County , Ocean Pier at Ocean Boulevard and Crews Avenue in Topsail Beach in Pender County . -- New Hampshire : Hampton Beach State Park in Rockingham County , Wallis Sands Beach at Wallis Road in Rockingham County , Wallis Sands State Park in Rockingham County . -- New Jersey : Washington ( Margate ) in Atlantic County , 40th Street ( Avalon ) in Cape May County , 40th Street ( Sea Isle City ) in Cape May County , Stone Harbor at 96th Street in Cape May County , Upper Township at Webster Road in Cape May County , Wildwood Crest at Orchid in Cape May County , Broadway ( Point Pleasant Beach ) in Ocean County . -- New York : Long Beach City in Nassau County . -- Virginia : Virginia Beach at 28th Street in Virginia Beach County , Virginia Beach at 45th Street in Virginia Beach County , Back Bay Beach in Virginia Beach County , Virginia Beach -- Little Island Beach North in Virginia Beach County . -- Washington : Westhaven State Park , South Jetty in Grays Harbor . The bad . The new `` Beach Action Value '' resulted in a significant increase in failure rates in 2013 , especially in certain states . The Great Lakes region had the highest rate of beach water impurities , with 13 % of all samples failing to pass safety standards . The region was also home to the worst individual state offender , Ohio , which posted a 35 % failure rate . Next closest states were Alaska and Mississippi , with 24 % and 21 % failure , respectively . Under the old , less-stringent standard , 7 % to 8 % of beaches failed to meet water quality standards . This year , the number jumped to 10 % . The report detailed the disastrous effects swimming in infected waters could have . `` Beach water pollution nationwide causes a range of waterborne illnesses in swimmers including stomach flu , skin rashes , pinkeye , ear , nose and throat problems , dysentery , hepatitis ... and other serious health problems , '' it said . `` For senior citizens , small children and people with weak immune systems , the results can even be fatal . '' The ugly . Some beaches just do n't get the hint . Over the past five years of analyzing over 3,500 beach water samples , the NRDC has identified 17 U.S. beaches that have `` consistent contamination problems . '' To qualify for this `` repeat offender '' list , a beach has failed to meet public standards for water quality more than 25 % of the time since 2009 -- a dubious distinction . Here they are : . -- California : Malibu Pier , 50 yards east of the pier , in Los Angeles County . -- Indiana : Jeorse Park Beach in Lake County ( both monitored sections ) : Lake Jeorse Park Beach I , Lake Jeorse Park Beach II . -- Massachusetts : Cockle Cove Creek in Barnstable County . -- Maine : Goodies Beach in Knox County . -- New Jersey : Beachwood Beach in Ocean County . -- New York : Main Street Beach in Chautauqua County , Wright Park -- East in Chautauqua County , Ontario Beach in Monroe County . -- Ohio : Lakeshore Park in Ashtabula County , Arcadia Beach in Cuyahoga County , Euclid State Park in Cuyahoga County , Noble Beach in Cuyahoga County , Sims Beach in Cuyahoga County , Villa Angela State Park in Cuyahoga County , Edson Creek in Erie County . -- Wisconsin : South Shore Beach in Milwaukee County . What you can do . Strictly swimming in `` superstar '' beaches would be a plus , but the NRDC has other recommendations on how to remain safe in troubled waters . Here are two suggestions : . -- `` Stay away from beaches with visible discharge pipes and avoid swimming at urban beaches after a heavy rainfall . '' -- `` A good rule of thumb is to avoid swimming at the beach for at least 24 hours after it rains and 72 hours after heavy rains . '' For the full list of tested waters , policy recommendations to improve quality and a ZIP code searchable map , go to http : //www.nrdc.org/beaches .
Report : 10 % of water samples from U.S. beaches fail standards for swimmer safety . Thirty-five beaches rated as `` superstars '' for water quality . " Comment: The reason is that the EPA has a very strict standard to measure swimming pools and other public facilities, which are not designed or built specifically with this in mind.