Ranked: The top 10 Texas beaches with contaminated, potentially unsafe water

>>> See the most unsafe swimming beaches in Texas, according to a new study >>> See the most unsafe swimming beaches in Texas, according to a new study Photo: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer Photo: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Ranked: The top 10 Texas beaches with contaminated, potentially unsafe water 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

Stormwater runoff and sewage overflows are the main culprits behind contaminated water at Texas beaches, a new study found.

A recent Houston Chronicle story highlighted the study, "Safe for Swimming," from Environment Texas Research and Policy Center, which found that 141 of 167 beaches sampled in Texas exceeded a federal safety threshold for bacterial contamination for at least one day in 2018.

Read the full story on HoustonChronicle.com: How safe are Texas' beaches? Report finds high levels of bacteria that can put swimmers at risk

Jen Schmerling, deputy director of the center said the state's coastal areas experience some of the heaviest rains in the country. That causes the runoff and sewage overflow that ultimately leads to potential contamination.

"We must invest in water infrastructure that prevents pollution to ensure that America's waterways are safe for swimming," she said in a news release.

In the study, the majority of the top 10 most contaminated beach areas were located in Corpus Christi. The Texas City Dyke and Sylvan Beach near La Porte was also on the list.

>>> Click through the gallery to see all the state's most contaminated beaches in the study

Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com | NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.