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Every summer, the Natural Resources Defense Council rates the country's beaches and awards superstar status to the safest, cleanest stretches of coastline. The NRDC doesn't rate the fineness of the sand or the views. They evaluate water quality and bacterial contamination levels, and how well officials communicate closings and safety advisories with the public, says Jon Devine, a senior attorney for the NRDC who worked on the report. Why do they do this? Because swimming in contaminated or polluted beachwater is associated with health risks ranging from stomach flu, skin rashes, pinkeye, respiratory infections, meningitis and hepatitis (yikes).

Can you guess where the nation's top four cleanest, most pristine beaches are located? (Nope, not in Kauai or the Outer Banks).

 

...And the winners are:
Delaware: Rehoboth Beach-Rehoboth Avenue Beach, in Sussex County
Delaware: Dewey Beach, in Sussex County
Minnesota: Park Point Lafayette Community Club Beach, in St. Louis County
New Hampshire: Hampton Beach State Park in Rockingham County

"These beaches deserve special notice for not only receiving a 5-star rating this year, but for having perfect testing results for the past three years, indicating a history of very good water quality," says the report.

You can check the status of your local beach, and read the full report, Testing the Waters, by going to NRDC.org.

Wondering what you should do if you happen to live near one of the dirtiest beaches in the country, like Florida's Keaton Beach or California's Avalon Beach? Well, think twice about splashing around with your kids (as children are more likely to open their mouths while swimming, they tend to take in more contaminated water). Devine suggests contacting your local officials or beach managers asking them questions about their waterfront monitoring practices and how often they issue advisories. The NRDC is also urging communities to consider "green infrastructure," like permeable pavement that absorbs rainwater instead of letting it run off into the sand and ocean. For more beach safety tips, check out this guide from the NRDC.