Report Grades New York City Long Island Sound Beaches for 2025 Water Quality

An annual survey by Save the Sound released Tuesday assigned grades to New York City beaches along the Long Island Sound based on bacteria levels measured during the 2025 swimming season. Eight of the city’s eleven Sound beaches received D or F marks. The three lowest scores went to private clubs in the Bronx.

Club recorded the lowest grade after failing 39 percent of 57 random samples. American Turners and Trinity Danish Young People’s Society also received F grades. Nearby private clubs including Danish American Beach Club and Manhem Beach Club earned D- and D grades.

Three additional civic association beaches near Little Neck Bay received D grades. Orchard Beach, the city’s only public Sound beach, and West Fordham Street Association each received B+ grades. Morris Yacht and Beach Club received a B.

Linderoth, director of healthy waters and lands for Save the Sound, said the city’s combined sewer system and dense development contribute to pollution during rain events. Linderoth noted that 2025 brought about 16 inches of rainfall, enough to trigger stormwater discharges that mix untreated sewage with rainwater.

The City Island area performed better than other tested sites because of its location near less developed land and local cleanup efforts. Across the full Long Island Sound, 77 percent of 192 beaches sampled at least nine times earned A or B grades, the highest share since 2022.

Linderoth said continued investment in green infrastructure such as rain gardens and constructed wetlands would be required to reduce bacterial contamination reaching the Sound.