Record setting Labor Day weekend is expected
Get ready for another record-breaking Labor Day trip weekend.
FOX -LA
SAN DIEGO – Thousands of people across the United States are being advised for water-related activities in the beaches and other coastal areas on Labor Day holiday weekends due to unsafe levels of bacteria.
Due to water quality concerns caused by increased levels of fecal contamination, water quality recommendations and closures have been issued for many beaches along the East Coast, from Maine to Florida. The recommendation warns beach fans to avoid water contact due to the possible risk of bacterial disease.
Meanwhile, West Coast officials also warned of high bacterial levels on beaches, including San Diego, where the Imperial Beach coastline, the silver chain coastline and parts of the coronado have been closed as of August 31, according to the water quality of San Diego Beach.
At the start of Labor Day weekend, the Los Angeles County Public Health issued a saltwater use warning on August 29 for local beaches due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards. The warning was issued for some parts of Topanga County Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and Santa Monica.
In Michigan, some beaches have been closed or bacterial recommendations have been reported by the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA Today Network. State officials said beaches that are not safe to swim are not safe due to potential wildlife contamination.
According to the US Geological Survey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, consumption or contact with water contaminated with the feces of humans and other warm-blooded animals can cause a variety of diseases, including gastrointestinal diseases, skin rashes, respiratory diseases and other types of infection.
The Environmental Protection Agency said the most commonly tested fecal bacterial indicators are E. coli and enterococcus, among others. Bacteria can come from sewage discharge, stormwater runoff, stormwater runoff, animal and agricultural waste, according to the New York State Department of Health.
Hundreds of beaches had “potentially dangerous pollution levels” in 2024
Beaches are popular destinations for summer months and holidays, such as Independence Day and Labor Day. However, closures due to high levels of bacteria and fecal contamination remain a widespread problem across the country.
Earlier this summer, high bacteria levels prompted beach fans to close and advise beaches from Michigan to New York in preparation for Independence Day celebrations. The closure of beaches from dangerous bacterial levels “since it’s hot and there’s more people out there, it tends to peak in July,” according to Harvard’s School of Public Health.
A report from the Conservation Group Environment America, released in July 2025, points out that 61% of U.S. beaches had “potentially dangerous levels of pollution” in 2024. That year, the group found that 1,930 out of 3,187 tested beaches experienced 1,930 out of at least one beach, with indicators of fecal contamination reaching potentially uncertain levels.
The group also found that more than 450 beaches had potentially unsafe levels of fecal contamination for at least 25% of the number of days tested. The report added that in 2024 there were over 7,563 health warnings or closures on coastal and Great Lakes beaches, affecting one every 15 days.
“There is an estimated 57 million diseases in the United States due to swimming in oceans, lakes, rivers and ponds each year. The majority of these diseases have not been reported,” the report states. “Contaminated water can also cause health warnings and closures that hinder your ability to enjoy the beach.”
What is Beach Advisory, Closure?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Service, water quality tests show the presence of one or more contaminants above health levels, beach recommendations and closures occur. Beach fans are encouraged to follow state and local guidelines for recommendations and find information about the current water quality of the beach.
According to the National Marine Service, beach closures and recommendations can be caused by excessive stormwater carrying contamination from stormwater drains to recreational water. Contamination includes motor oil, animal waste, pesticides, trash and pathogens.
According to the National Marine Service, other sources that lead to beach closures and recommendations are harmful algae flowers, such as the red tides — sewage and chemical runoff. USA Today Network -New England reported on August 29 that more than 20 beaches in Vermont are under bacterial recommendations as they are heading for Labor Day weekend due to high levels of cyanobacteria.
According to Vermont Department of Health, cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae that grow in freshwater, they can release toxins into water that produce unsafe swimming conditions. Health effects of contact with cyanobacteria include rash, abdominal pain, vomiting, liver damage, and dizziness.
“It’s generally wise if the water is a rare colour without avoiding a swim after heavy rain or checking with local or state health officials first,” advises the National Marine Service.
Contributors: Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press; Katherine Messier, USA Today Network -New England
