Keep the Beach Healthy

Minimize Beach Contamination

Swimmers can do a lot to help minimize beach contamination:

  • Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea
  • Shower before swimming
  • Change diapers frequently and away from the water
  • Dispose of trash, animal waste, and boat waste properly
  • Maintain septic systems
  • Do not encourage water fowl by feeding ducks, geese, seagulls, or other birds

Sources of Beach Contamination

Sources of contamination include sewage overflows, leaky septic tanks, stormwater runoff, boating waste, and animal or human waste.

Diaper crumpled up on beach next to waterline
Diaper at Lakewalk Beach, Duluth, Minnesota, July 2014
Pile of dog feces on edge of grassy area on beach.
Dog feces at Beach House Beach, Duluth, Minnesota,
Pool of greenish cloudy water on sandy beach next to lake
Sanitary sewer spill at Burlington Bay Beach, Two Harbors, Minnesota, August 2013
Pool of cloudy water on sandy beach outside of culvert
Sanitary sewer spill at Burlington Bay, Two Harbors, Minnesota, August 2013
Water flowing out of broken cement culvert onto gravel substrate
Broken culvert at Leif Erikson Beach, Duluth, Minnesota, August 2015