Before you or your kids step into the water, you deserve to know what's in it.
Every week during swim season, volunteers collect water samples from public swimming and recreational areas across coastal Alabama and test them for bacteria that can indicate sewage contamination or other dangerous pathogens.
Results are published here every Friday during the summer, giving you the information you need to make informed decisions before heading to the water.
This season, we've updated SWIM to focus on the places people use most.
Use the map below to explore this week's results.
Results shown reflect the latest available data from Mobile Baykeeper and our public agency partners. Click any monitoring site to view the most recent sample results and learn more about that location.
A blue symbol indicates low bacteria levels < 104 MPN (most probable number) /100 mL (<235 MPN for Bohemian Park)
A red symbol indicates high bacteria levels > 104 MPN/100ml (> 235 MPN for Bohemian Park)
The Swim Report is updated every Friday from April through September and monthly in the fall and winter.
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Swim Where It’s Monitored (SWIM)
How SWIM Works
volunteers collect water samples
Community volunteers collect water samples from public swimming areas across Coastal Alabama each week during swim season.
samples are tested
Samples are analyzed in Mobile Baykeeper's lab using EPA-approved methods.
Results Are Reviewed
Our team compares the results to EPA recreational water quality standards.
reports are published
Every Friday, the newest results are added to the SWIM map so you can check conditions before heading to the water.
Thank You to Our Partners
The return of SWIM wouldn't be possible without businesses and organizations that believe healthy waterways are worth investing in.
Their leadership helps provide trusted water quality information for thousands of people across Coastal Alabama every swim season.
Michael & Debbie Quinn
Help Grow SWIM
This season, SWIM is monitoring our highest priority public swimming areas while we continue working to expand the program.
With additional community support, we'll be able to monitor more locations, engage more volunteers, and build new tools that help identify pollution before it reaches our waterways.
Whether you'd like to volunteer, become a sponsor, or make a donation, you can help grow SWIM and protect the waters we all share.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How often are samples collected?
SWIM volunteers collect samples weekly throughout swim season (April-September), and monthly the rest of the year. Results are published every Friday, in the summer season, after samples have been processed in our laboratory.
Why do you test for Enterococcus and E. coli?
These bacteria are test because they act as fecal indicator bacteria, signaling that sewage or animal waste has contaminated the water and that dangerous pathogens may be present. Testing for indicator bacteria is the standard method used to assess recreational water quality.
Why doesn't SWIM monitor every swimming area?
Our current SWIM sites focus on public swimming and recreational areas around Coastal Alabama. As additional funding becomes available, we hope to expand the program to more locations.