Contaminated beaches don't make for happy holidays.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—The number of closing and advisory days at ocean, bay, and Great Lakes beaches topped 20,000 last year, according to Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC)’s 19th annual beach water-quality report. “Pollution from dirty stormwater runoff and sewage overflows continues to make its way to our beaches. This not only makes swimmers sick—it hurts coastal economies,” says Nancy Stoner, NRDC Water Program codirector. “Americans should not suffer the consequences of contaminated beach water. From contracting the flu or pink eye, to jeopardizing millions of jobs and billions of dollars that rely on clean coasts, there are serious costs to inaction.”

THE DETAILS: In 2008, unknown sources of pollution accounted for 62 percent of total beach closures, up from 33 percent in 2007. The increase, in part due to sewage and stormwater discharge, has not undergone additional monitoring to determine other causes of the elevated bacteria level. According to the NRDC Testing the Waters report, the increase in water pollution due to climate change will result in an increase of pathogens that cause stomach flu, diarrhea, skin rash, hepatitis, neurological problems, and other health problems. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that waterborne illnesses continue to increase.

The beaches with the fewest closings and best water-quality records named in the report include: Gulf Shores Public Beach in Alabama; Laguna Beach Main Beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach, all in California; Ocean City beaches in Maryland; Park Point Community Club Beach in Duluth, Minnesota; and Hampton Beach State Park in Hampton, New Hampshire.

Some of the lowest ranking, one-star beaches include Zach’s Bay at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, New York; Ocean Beach Park in New London, Connecticut; Venice Public Beach in Venice, Florida; and Point Pleasant Beach in New Jersey.