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Thinkstock1 of 23
Could a quick dip at your favorite beach this summer make you ill?
The Natural Resources Defense Council released its annual analysis of water quality and public notification data at U.S. beaches this week. It turns out 2011 wasn't a banner year for water quality. Beach closing and advisory days reached the third-highest level in the 22-year history of the report, totaling 23,481 days. Two-thirds of all beach closures were the result of bacteria levels that exceeded public health standards. The most common culprit? Stormwater runoff.
Experts believe millions of people are sickened by contaminated water each year. Illnesses can range from respiratory infections and stomach flu to meningitis and hepatitis.
Click through to see the 12 superstar beaches that have low violation rates and strong testing and safety practices. Then keep clicking to see 10 of the nation's dirtiest beaches -- repeat offenders that have had consistent contamination problems.
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John W. Tuggle via Flickr2 of 23
Superstar: Gulf Shores Public Beach, Ala.
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faungg via Flickr3 of 23
Superstar: Gulf State Park Pavilion, Ala.
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JeffreyTurner via Flickr4 of 23
Superstar: Bolsa Chica State Beach, Calif.
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JP<3! via Flickr5 of 23
Superstar: Huntington State Beach, Calif.
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YoTuT via Flickr6 of 23
Superstar: Newport Beach, Calif.
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Lee Cannon via Flickr7 of 23
Superstar: Dewey Beach, Del.
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Bernt Rostad via Flickr8 of 23
Superstar: Ocean City at Beach 6, Md.
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Bernt Rostad via Flickr9 of 23
Superstar: Park Point Franklin Park / 13th Street South Beach, Minn.
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SONY DSC10 of 23
Superstar: Park Point Lafayette Community Club Beach, Minn.
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rickpilot_2000 via Flickr11 of 23
Superstar: Hampton Beach State Park, New Hampshire
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Thinkstock12 of 23
Superstar: South Padre Island, Texas
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Courtesy of WMUR.com13 of 23
Superstar: Wallis Sands Beach, New Hampshire
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yourBuddyBill via Flickr14 of 23
Now, those beaches that have had consistent contamination problems.
Repeat offender: Avalon Beach, Calif.
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AP15 of 23
Repeat offender: Doheny State Beach, Calif.
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Dan Mullen via Flickr16 of 23
Repeat offender: South Shore Beach, Wisc.
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17 of 23
Repeat offender: Euclid State Park, Ohio
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Sarabeephoto via Flickr18 of 23
Repeat offender: Winnetka Elder Park Beach, Ill.
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Doug Kerr via Flickr19 of 23
Repeat offender: Ontario Beach, N.Y.
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~Sage~ via Flickr20 of 23
Repeat offender: Woodlawn Beach, N.Y.
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Google Maps21 of 23
Repeat offender: North Point Marina Beach, Ill.
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NRDC22 of 23
Repeat offender: Villa Angela State Park, Ohio
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Kelly Schott via Flickr23 of 23Next: 16 Songs for Scorching Summer Heat
Repeat offender: Beachwood Beach West, N.J.
Photo: Nearby Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.
If your favorite beach wasn't here, visit the NRDC website, where you can search beaches by zip code.