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How do beaches become contaminated with fecal bacteria?

You can get sick by swallowing or having contact with contaminated water at lakes, rivers or the ocean. The water can become contaminated by fecal matter which carries harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses. This unsanitary condition can be due to several possible causes:

• Improperly disposed diapers

• Children not properly cleaned after using the bathroom

• A vomiting or diarrhea incident in the water

• Stormwater runoff carrying pet and other animal waste

• High volume of swimmers

• A combined sewage overflow (CSO) event

• A sewage treatment plant or septic system malfunctioning