Tire track line a deserted beach on Grand Isle, Louisiana, April 18, 2011. Beaches are mostly clear of oil a year after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon, which killed 11 men working on the platform and caused an underwater leak that gushed 53,000 barrels of oil a day for three months. UPI/A.J. Sisco. | License Photo

WASHINGTON, June 30 (UPI) -- An annual survey of water quality at U.S. beaches said the number of beach closings and advisories in 2010 reached 24,091, the second-highest in 21 years.

The survey by the National Resources Defense Council focused on bacteria-related beach water quality concerns and found that three-quarters of the 2010 beach closings and advisories were issued because water quality monitoring revealed bacteria levels exceeding health and safety standards, an NRDC release said Thursday.


Aging and poorly designed sewage treatment systems and contaminated storm water are often the cause of beach water pollution, the group said.

Polluted beach water can lead to conditions such as skin rashes, pinkeye, respiratory infections, meningitis and hepatitis, the NRDC said.

The survey also included closures, advisories, and notices issued at beaches impacted by last summer's BP oil disaster.

From the beginning of the disaster until June 15, 2011 there were 9,474 oil-related beach notices, advisories and closures at Gulf Coast beaches due to the spill, the survey said.