The Pacific Northwest boasts some of the most spectacular coastlines anywhere.
Whether your destination is Oregon’s Cannon Beach, Washington’s Ruby Beach or another sandy paradise, you can literally enjoy a proverbial day at the beach this Labor Day weekend and beyond. Just take a few precautions and stay on top of local conditions.
All that beauty can hide some ugliness under the surface. Sewage overflows and other pollution can create health risks in our beloved waters. In their latest Safe for Swimming? report, our research partners found that the water at 79% of Oregon’s tested beaches and 76% of Washington’s had enough fecal bacteria, on at least one day in 2024, to make swimmers sick.
This phenomenon isn’t unique to the Pacific Northwest. Across the United States, each year, contaminated beach water causes about 57 million illnesses a year including gastrointestinal illnesses, respiratory diseases, skin rashes and ear and eye infections.
Here are some tips for safe swimming:
- Historical pollution data is available
Some states test their beaches more frequently and widely than others do. But you should be able to find some information online.
Environment America Research & Policy Center’s Safe for Swimming? dashboard shows 2024 beach testing data from Oregon, Washington and other coastal and Great Lakes states. The drop-down menu lists every state where you’ll find a major lakeside or coastal beach.
By using this dashboard, you can find out specific beaches and regions where water pollution historically has been a recurring problem. For example, Rockaway Beach in Oregon’s Tillamook County had bacteria levels posing risks to swimmers on all 10 days tested last year. In Washington, the water at Titlow Park in Pierce County was “potentially unsafe” on 65% of the days tested.
- Where to find Pacific Northwest beach closures and health advisories.
No one wants to drive all the way to the beach only to discover it’s closed because of poor water quality. You can find out about closures and any health advisories before you pack the car.
Use the simple tool below to find the latest information on beach closures and advisories in Oregon, Washington or any other state you may visit.
If you can’t find information about your beach online, phone the local health department.
- After a heavy storm, avoid swimming at the beach for 72 hours.
Heavy rainfall can overwhelm sewers and exacerbate runoff pollution, some of which ends up at beaches. Studies correlate sewage overflow and runoff with illnesses, so some public health officials suggest waiting three days after a heavy downpour so contaminants can disperse and dilute.
- Don’t overlook toxic algae
Fecal bacteria isn’t the only thing in the water that might make you sick. Toxic algae blooms, often stoked by chemicals used on farms that runoff into nearby waterways, can mean big trouble, too. Just Tuesday, the U.S. government announced that a “record-breaking algal bloom [is expanding] across the North Pacific,” including off the Oregon and Washington shores.
Toxic algae has also plagued some segments of the Columbia River. For lakes and ponds, you can also check toxic algae trackers in both Washington and Oregon to see where documented outbreaks are happening. Just remember that not all water bodies are sampled or monitored, so keep your eyes out for signs of toxic algae too.
- Prevent infections
It may be best to avoid swimming if you have an open cut or wound. And always rinse or wash yourself off with fresh water after swimming, whether you have an exposed cut or not. If you’re prone to infections, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that you check with your healthcare provider before swimming in natural bodies of water.
- Check on pollution sources upstream
Nearby facilities may make some beaches more prone to water pollution than others. Pay special attention to beach conditions downstream from sewage or stormwater outfall pipes, or farmland. As the saying goes, poop flows downstream. It can end up in the water where you swim.
- Pay attention
Avoid water that smells or looks funny. Cloudy and dirty water often contains bacteria or other organic material that could make you sick. And don’t ignore warnings about beach closures. Often, they’re because of water pollution.
Want to take a deeper dive on beach bacteria and how we can prevent it? Check out our Safe for Swimming? report
Authors
Ian works to protect our oceans and marine ecosystems. Ian lives in Portland, Oregon, where he enjoys ultrarunning, hiking, and local breweries in his free time.
John directs Environment America’s efforts to protect our rivers, lakes, streams and drinking water. John’s areas of expertise include lead and other toxic threats to drinking water, factory farms and agribusiness pollution, algal blooms, fracking and the federal Clean Water Act. He previously worked as a staff attorney for Alternatives for Community & Environment and Tobacco Control Resource Center. John lives in Brookline, Mass., with his family, where he enjoys cooking, running, playing tennis, chess and building sandcastles on the beach.
Emily is the senior director for state organizations for The Public Interest Network. She works nationwide with the state group directors for PIRG and Environment America to help them build stronger organizations and achieve greater success. Emily was the executive director for CALPIRG from 2009-2021, overseeing a myriad of CALPIRG campaigns to protect public health, protect consumers in the marketplace, and promote a robust democracy. Emily works in our Oakland, California, office, and loves camping, hiking, gardening and cooking with her family.
