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Beach water quality

Before you drive out with the towels: which beaches Puerto Rico’s latest notice tells swimmers to stay out of, and what the last water sample found at every one of the 49 beaches the island tests. Bacteria you cannot see, from a lab result nobody publishes in English, so we do.

Puerto Rico DRNA’s beach notices and water samples, checked Oct 24, 7:50 PM AST

Alert me when my town's beaches change

Right now

Notice Oct 16

DRNA’s latest notice (Oct 16) keeps swimmers out of 3 beaches. The water there carried more Enterococcus bacteria than the 70 colonies per 100 mL at which the island posts a warning.

No newer notice has been posted in the 8 days since. DRNA usually posts one a week.

The advisory stands until the next round of samples clears the beach. Nothing else on the island’s list was over the line in this round, but see the dates in the table below before you read that as an all-clear.

No river surge

No river with a gauge has run at 4 times its usual flow in the last 48 hours. That is not a clean-water reading: even on days like this, 1 in 6 beach samples near a river mouth failed the swimming limit. The tests below are the water's own.

From USGS river gauges, not a water test.

Clean water is half of it. Before you go in, check today’s waves and wind along the coast and the forecast.

Sargassum by coast · NOAA, Oct 22

  • North coastIsabela to LuquilloMedium
  • East coastFajardo to HumacaoHigh
  • South coastYabucoa to La PargueraHigh
  • West coastCabo Rojo to AguadillaHigh
  • Vieques and CulebraMedium

NOAA's experimental daily rating of the seaweed within 50 to 100 km of the shore, regional and coarse: not a report from any beach. Levels: low, warning, medium, high. NOAA AOML and USF · USF's monthly Caribbean outlook

The weekly read

Every Where to Swim

Every beach tested

Newest sample collected Oct 13 · checked today

The last Enterococcus count at each of the island’s monitoring stations, and the day the water was collected. A beach only gets a reading here if it was sampled in the last 21 days; where it wasn’t, the date is the whole answer.

Beaches tested
49
Stations in the island’s monitoring program
Under advisory
3
Over 70 colonies/100 mL, or named in the notice
Within limits
32
Sampled in the last 21 days and under the line
Not sampled recently
14
No result in 21 days; we can tell you nothing either way
32 of 49 stations, within limits32 3 of 49 stations, under advisory3 14 of 49 stations, not sampled in 21 days14 within limits under advisory not sampled in 21 days
32 of 49 stations, within limits32 3 of 49 stations, under advisory3 14 of 49 stations, not sampled in 21 days14 within limits under advisory not sampled in 21 days
All 49 DRNA monitoring stations by their latest verdict. Grey is unknown, not bad: a station with no sample in 21 days has not passed anything and has not failed anything. Each one's own count and date is in the list below.

Matches beach name, town or station code. Press Escape to clear the filter.

Showing 49 of 49 beaches

  • Tap or select a bar for the detail
BeachTownEnterococcus · limit 70SampledReading
Pico de PiedraRW-22AguadaPico de Piedra: 402 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 13. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 1311 days agoAdvisory: not suitable for swimming
Balneario Cerro GordoRW-17Vega AltaBalneario Cerro Gordo: 231 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 13. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 1311 days agoAdvisory: not suitable for swimming
Playa GuayanésRW-30YabucoaPlaya Guayanés: 97 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 13. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 1311 days agoAdvisory: not suitable for swimming
Balneario de PatillasRW-6PatillasBalneario de Patillas: 52 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Balneario Punta GuilarteRW-7ArroyoBalneario Punta Guilarte: 41 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Playa AzulRW-32LuquilloPlaya Azul: 31 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Balneario Crash BoatRW-16AguadillaBalneario Crash Boat: 20 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Balneario Manuel Nolo Morales or SardineraRW-18DoradoBalneario Manuel Nolo Morales or Sardinera: 20 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Ocean ParkRW-27San JuanOcean Park: 20 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Balneario de Añasco or Balneario Tres HermanosRW-15AñascoBalneario de Añasco or Balneario Tres Hermanos: 10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Balneario de BoquerónRW-13Cabo RojoBalneario de Boquerón: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Balneario de CarolinaRW-21CCarolinaBalneario de Carolina: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Balneario de Puerto NuevoRW-23Vega BajaBalneario de Puerto Nuevo: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Balneario de RincónRW-5RincónBalneario de Rincón: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Balneario de SalinasRW-36SalinasBalneario de Salinas: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Balneario El EscambrónRW-20ASan JuanBalneario El Escambrón: 10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Balneario La MonserrateRW-1ALuquilloBalneario La Monserrate: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Balneario Punta SalinasRW-19Toa BajaBalneario Punta Salinas: 10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Balneario Punta SantiagoRW-4HumacaoBalneario Punta Santiago: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Balneario Seven SeasRW-2FajardoBalneario Seven Seas: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Caña GordaRW-9GuánicaCaña Gorda: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Mar ChiquitaRW-39ManatíMar Chiquita: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Muelle de AreciboRW-38AreciboMuelle de Arecibo: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Playa BuyéRW-8Cabo RojoPlaya Buyé: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Playa del HiltonRW-34PoncePlaya del Hilton: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Playa El AlambiqueRW-28San JuanPlaya El Alambique: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Playa El CombateRW-12BCabo RojoPlaya El Combate: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Playa Moja CasabeRW-14ACabo RojoPlaya Moja Casabe: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Playa SantaRW-10GuánicaPlaya Santa: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Playa Sixto EscobarRW-25ASan JuanPlaya Sixto Escobar: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Playita del CondadoRW-26San JuanPlayita del Condado: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Playita RosadaRW-33LajasPlayita Rosada: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Tropical BeachRW-31NaguaboTropical Beach: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 13. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 1311 days agoWithin limits
Vacía TalegaRW-29LoízaVacía Talega: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 6. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 618 days agoWithin limits
Villa LamelaRW-37Cabo RojoVilla Lamela: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Oct 5. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Oct 519 days agoWithin limits
Playa EsperanzaV-3ViequesPlaya Esperanza: 985 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Nov 20, 2023. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Nov 20, 20231069 days agoNot sampled recently
Balneario de Carolina-OesteBF-CCarolinaBalneario de Carolina-Oeste: 85 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Jul 17, 2019. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Jul 17, 20192656 days agoNot sampled recently
Sun BayV-2ViequesSun Bay: 41 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Nov 20, 2023. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Nov 20, 20231069 days agoNot sampled recently
Vacía Talega9-VTLoízaVacía Talega: 31 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Mar 15, 2024. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Mar 15, 2024953 days agoNot sampled recently
Balneario de Carolina10-BCCarolinaBalneario de Carolina: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Mar 15, 2024. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Mar 15, 2024953 days agoNot sampled recently
Balneario La Monserrate8-LMLuquilloBalneario La Monserrate: 10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Mar 15, 2024. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Mar 15, 2024953 days agoNot sampled recently
Balneario Seven Seas6-SSFajardoBalneario Seven Seas: 10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Mar 15, 2024. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Mar 15, 2024953 days agoNot sampled recently
Flamenco5-FCulebraFlamenco: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Mar 15, 2024. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Mar 15, 2024953 days agoNot sampled recently
Melones3-MCulebraMelones: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Mar 15, 2024. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Mar 15, 2024953 days agoNot sampled recently
Playa Azul7-PALuquilloPlaya Azul: 10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Mar 15, 2024. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Mar 15, 2024953 days agoNot sampled recently
Playa El GallitoV-1ViequesPlaya El Gallito: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Nov 20, 2023. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Nov 20, 20231069 days agoNot sampled recently
Punta Soldado1-PSCulebraPunta Soldado: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Mar 15, 2024. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Mar 15, 2024953 days agoNot sampled recently
Sardinera2-SCulebraSardinera: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Mar 15, 2024. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Mar 15, 2024953 days agoNot sampled recently
Tamarindo4-TCulebraTamarindo: <10 colonies of Enterococcus per 100 mL, sampled Mar 15, 2024. The island posts a warning above 70.Sampled Mar 15, 2024953 days agoNot sampled recently
Show all 49 beachesShow fewer

Flagged again and again

Apr 7, 2025 – Oct 16, 2026

One bad week is weather. The same beach in notice after notice is something else. Across the last 60 notices, these are the beaches Puerto Rico has told swimmers to stay out of more than once.

  1. Tropical BeachNaguabo24 of 60
  2. Balneario de PatillasPatillas23 of 60
  3. Playa CabullónPonce20 of 60
  4. Muelle de AreciboArecibo18 of 60
  5. Balneario Punta SalinasToa Baja15 of 60
  6. Balneario Punta SantiagoHumacao12 of 60
  7. Playa BuyéCabo Rojo12 of 60
  8. Balneario Pico de PiedraAguada11 of 60

Counted over the notices we hold, not over the whole season; a beach can only be flagged in a week its water was actually collected.

Community testing

Collected Oct 21

Volunteers test water the government program does not reach, and they usually get there first. These are not official results and no beach is put under advisory on the strength of them, but a fresh number from a neighbor beats a two-week-old one from anybody.

Matches site name or town. Press Escape to clear the filter.

Showing 30 of 30 samples

SiteEnterococcusCollectedTested by
Río GrandeRío Grande: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Kristen Muldoon. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoKristen MuldoonRincón
Pico PiedraPico Piedra: 63 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Kristen Muldoon. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoKristen MuldoonRincón
Balneario municipal de RincónBalneario municipal de Rincón: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Michelle Carrera. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoMichelle CarreraRincón
Table RockTable Rock: 63 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Kristen Muldoon. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoKristen MuldoonRincón
Playa AlmendrosPlaya Almendros: 52 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Mike Zoellick. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoMike ZoellickRincón
Centro VacacionalCentro Vacacional: 63 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Mike Zoellick. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoMike ZoellickRincón
MaríasMarías: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Celeste Lindsey. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoCeleste LindseyRincón
South RMTPSouth RMTP: 134 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Steve Tamar. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoSteve TamarRincón
Tres HermanosTres Hermanos: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Mike Zoellick. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoMike ZoellickRincón
Domes BeachDomes Beach: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Celeste Lindsey. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoCeleste LindseyRincón
Steps Beach, Tres Palmas Marine ReserveSteps Beach, Tres Palmas Marine Reserve: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Steve Tamar. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoSteve TamarRincón
Parking LotsParking Lots: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Celeste Lindsey. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoCeleste LindseyRincón
Playa LalaPlaya Lala: 63 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Steve Tamar. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoSteve TamarRincón
Córcega BeachCórcega Beach: 20 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Steve Tamar. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoSteve TamarRincón
Balneario de CarolinaBalneario de Carolina: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Arrecifes Pro Ciudad. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoArrecifes Pro CiudadSan Juan
Playa Pine GrovePlaya Pine Grove: 31 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Arrecifes Pro Ciudad. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoArrecifes Pro CiudadSan Juan
Kiosko RMAIVKiosko RMAIV: 31 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Arrecifes Pro Ciudad. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoArrecifes Pro CiudadSan Juan
La PlayitaLa Playita: 41 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Arrecifes Pro Ciudad. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoArrecifes Pro CiudadSan Juan
Boca de CangrejosBoca de Cangrejos: 20 colonies per 100 mL, collected Oct 21 by Arrecifes Pro Ciudad. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Oct 213 days agoArrecifes Pro CiudadSan Juan
Playa MontonesPlaya Montones: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Sep 19 by Sailyn Cordero. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Sep 1935 days agoSailyn CorderoRincón
MiddlesMiddles: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Sep 19 by Sailyn Cordero. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Sep 1935 days agoSailyn CorderoRincón
Villa PesqueraVilla Pesquera: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Sep 17 by Sailyn Cordero. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Sep 1737 days agoSailyn CorderoRincón
TeodoroTeodoro: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Sep 17 by Sailyn Cordero. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Sep 1737 days agoSailyn CorderoRincón
Playa JobosPlaya Jobos: 20 colonies per 100 mL, collected Sep 17 by Sailyn Cordero. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Sep 1737 days agoSailyn CorderoRincón
Shacks BeachShacks Beach: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Sep 17 by Sailyn Cordero. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Sep 1737 days agoSailyn CorderoRincón
SurfersSurfers: 20 colonies per 100 mL, collected Sep 2 by Alvin Remus. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Sep 252 days agoAlvin RemusRincón
Punta BorinquenPunta Borinquen: 10 colonies per 100 mL, collected Sep 2 by Alvin Remus. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Sep 252 days agoAlvin RemusRincón
Parque ColónParque Colón: 31 colonies per 100 mL, collected Sep 2 by Paige Copple. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Sep 252 days agoPaige CoppleRincón
RompeolasRompeolas: 857 colonies per 100 mL, collected Sep 2 by Paige Copple. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Sep 252 days agoPaige CoppleRincón
CrashboatCrashboat: 644 colonies per 100 mL, collected Aug 26 by Paige Copple. Volunteer lab, not an official result.Collected Aug 2659 days agoPaige CoppleRincón
Show all 30 samplesShow fewer

3 of these 30 samples came back above 70 colonies/100 mL. That is a volunteer lab's finding, not a government advisory.

Where these numbers come from

Puerto Rico’s Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales samples about 49 beaches for Enterococcus bacteria under the federal BEACH Act, and posts a Spanish-language notice naming any beach that came back over 70 colonies per 100 mL. We read each notice as it is published and keep it, so the record of which beaches keep failing is still here months later. The per-beach counts and the coordinates come from CARICOOS, which republishes the same program’s laboratory results. The community section is the volunteer testing that rides in the same CARICOOS feed: Surfrider Foundation Rincón’s Blue Water Task Force and Arrecifes Pro Ciudad in San Juan and Carolina.

One thing worth knowing: Results are published days after the water was sampled, and water quality changes with rain and tide. A heavy shower can push a beach over the 70 colonies/100 mL action value hours after a clean sample was taken. A beach that is not on the advisory list was either within limits or was not sampled; the date beside it tells you which.

Town names are DRNA’s own wherever it has published one; for the rest we name the nearest town to the sampling point. These figures were last refreshed 2 hours ago.

Found a warning sign on a beach that reads clear here? Tell us and we will chase it. The same figures are open data at /api/beaches.json.

Every story naming DRNA