Is it Safe to Swim in Our Waters?

Interactive Maps
Safe to Swim Map Safe to Swim Map

The Safe to Swim map displays bacterial sampling data for coastal and inland monitoring locations over time. The map compares the sampling data and six-week geometric mean to the statewide bacteria water quality objectives for E. coli and enterococci.
coastal information map Coastal Information Map

The Swimming Safety Information map provides information on coastal beach advisories, coastal beach report card grades, impaired waters for swimming, and beach improvement projects by county. The map graphs bacterial sampling data for coastal monitoring locations and compares the data and 30-day geometric mean to the bacterial water quality objectives specified in the California Ocean Plan.

California Swim Map California Swim Guide Map

The California Swim Guide is a regional snapshot of the work and information collected and displayed by Canada's Swim Guide program. Swim Guide is a website and smartphone app for iPhone® and Android. It helps you easily find your closest beaches, know at a glance which ones are safe for swimming, and share your love of beaches with friends and family. Swim Guide delivers free real-time water quality information for over 7,000 beaches, lakes, rivers, and swimming holes in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the Bahamas, Ireland, France, Denmark, New Zealand, Australia, and Kenya. Swim Guide is available in English, French, and Spanish. Created and managed by Swim Drink Fish Canada (formerly Lake Ontario Waterkeeper), Swim Guide can be used by any public interest club, organization, or agency to share beach information with the public. The data collected and displayed by the Swim Guide is of varying quality and should only be used as an information tool and not for regulatory or enforcement purposes.
Your Coast Web App Your Coast Web App

Explore thousands of California Coastal Access locations with the YourCoast Web app. YourCoast will get you to more than 1,600 hidden (and not so hidden) beaches, trails and parks along the California coast. With directions, photos, and other features, you’ll always know which beach has restrooms, parking, disabled access, is dog friendly and more. This is the official app of the California Coastal Commission.

Beach Water Quality Testing in California

Beach water quality monitoring and strong pollution prevention measures are critical for protecting beachgoers at coastal beaches, estuaries, streams, rivers, and lakes from waterborne diseases. Monitoring is performed by public health agencies, publicly owned sewage treatment plants, other dischargers, environmental groups, and numerous citizen-monitoring groups.