Beaches across US close during Labor Day weekend due to fecal contamination

United States
September 1, 2025 7:35am CST
But how did the fecal contamination get there? Are people pooping in the water? Is it fish poop? The article I read said this happens a lot when the weather is hot and the beaches are crowded. That would lead me to believe it's human waste. At first I thought it was a pumping issue of pumping fecal waste into the ocean, but that apparently is not the case. I knew people peed in the ocean but I didn't know they pooped in the water as well. If I'm not understanding how the fecal contamination happened, please enlighten me.
7 people like this
8 responses
DE
@DaddyEvil (158495)
• United States
1 Sep
Heavy storms can overwhelm municipal sewage centers and cause waste to overflow and be carried to the ocean. People swimming in the ocean can also contribute to the fecal/bacterial content. (The article I read doesn't say people poop in the ocean, though.)
1 person likes this
LooeyVille
@LooeyVille (48)
• United States
1 Sep
Okay, that's good to know.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (199582)
• United States
1h
DE seems to have the answer. I won't go into any body of water anymore for a lot of reasons.
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (102266)
• United States
16h
I had heard it was overrun. Which is why sometimes people are told to boil their water.
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Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (54812)
• Canada
23h
Most likely it is as a result of heavy rains, and it might not necessarily be from humans-cattle and pork farms can also be to blame if their manure piles were washed away from any rainwater.
1 person likes this
Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (14237)
• Ireland
16h
@looeyville Fecal contamination - must be a malfunction of sewage system. I’m sure they could find a less troubling euphemism to reference it.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (362217)
• Rockingham, Australia
11h
In oour state, it's usually from someone turning a wrong outlet allowing fecal waste to pump into the sea.
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OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (95831)
• Arvada, Colorado
1 Sep
No idea but that is more than sickening Lou if they are pooping in the water. JC The water is ruined around here with these zombies doing that.
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Jim Bauer
@porwest (106738)
• United States
1 Sep
Strange indeed. I can't even imagine pooping in a body of water.
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