Environment

90% Of Texas Beaches Are Contaminated With Fecal Matter

Going to the beach will never be the same.

Going to a Texas beach means there is a 90% chance that the water will be contaminated by fecal bacteria.

According to a report by the nonprofit group Environment Texas, 90% of tested Texas beaches in 2022 had fecal bacteria at least one day in the year. This number is far above the national average of 55% but all the Gulf Coast has an average of 84%.

Fecal matter in the water poses a health risk to people on the beach. Swimming in contaminated water can cause gastrointestinal illness, ear and eye infection and skin rash.

The sample used by Environment Texas was downloaded from the National Water Quality Monitoring Council. For 61 Texas beaches in the sample, 55 tested positive for fecal contamination at least one day. Eight beaches exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold for more than 25% of the testing days.

Of those tested beaches, Rope Park in Corpus Christi tested positive for fecal contamination 41% of the days, Cole Park in Corpus Christi 54% of the days and Texas City Dike in Galveston Bay 28%.

The report recommends more investment in wastewater infrastructure, and estimates that this would require $271 billion. There is still work to be done so Texas and national beaches are clean and safe.

RA Staff

Written by RA News staff.

Recent Posts

Trump Says He Will “Send More Than the National Guard” to Keep Cities Safe

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump told U.S.…

4 hours ago

Cornyn Backs Bill to Keep SNAP Benefits Flowing During Shutdown

Texas Senator John Cornyn is backing new…

9 hours ago

Fifth Circuit Reopens Case Over West Texas A&M Drag Show Ban

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will…

1 day ago

Sarah Eckhardt Launches Congressional Campaign in Texas’ 10th District

Texas state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat…

1 day ago

Texas Sues Tylenol Makers Over Autism Allegations

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed…

1 day ago

Leaked Messages Reveal Culture of Hate in Young Republican Circles

Last week, leaders within the Young Republican…

2 days ago

This website uses cookies.