Just In Case You Didn’t Know What You Are Swimming In

According to a recent report by environemttexas.org, if you're heading to a Texas beach this weekend, there's a chance that you might be swimming in #2. Fecal contamination makes beaches unsafe for swimming. Possible side effects from swimming in fecally contaminated water can be gastrointestinal illness as well as respiratory disease, ear, and eye infections, and skin rash.  Every year in the U.S., people contract an estimated 57 million cases of recreational waterborne illness from swimming in oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds

Out of 268 beaches on the Gulf Coast 220 beaches, or 82% of the beaches tested, were potentially unsafe for at least one day in 2020. 75 beaches, 28% of those tested, were potentially unsafe on at least 25% of the days that testing took place.  For Texas specifically, 55 out of 61 beaches that were tested,  registered potentially unsafe conditions for swimming on at least one day that year.

Unsafe beaches in Texas as ranked by Environment Texas feature a couple of familiar beaches we might know.  The good news is that beaches that are in our area did not make the list.

#1. COLE PARK IN CORPUS CHRISTI

Cole Park beach was tested 68 times in 2020 and 62 times, which is 91%, the results came back with unsafe water.

#6 CORPUS CHRISTI MARINA

The Corpus Christi Marina was tested 40 times in 2020 and 23 times, which is 57%, the results came back with unsafe water.

#8 SARGENT BEACH IN BAY CITY

Sargent beach was tested 40 times in 2020 and 20 times, which is 50%, the results came back with unsafe water.

You can see the full Safe for Swimming report by clicking here.