Annual water testing is done by environmental group Heal the Bay every season to test the quality of water. Results show that the Bay Area is the best place for beachgoers to go to. Almost all the beaches in that area received a grade of A.

For all the beachgoers out there, the Bay Area may be your best place to surf or swim. Ten of the Bay Area beaches received perfect scores and put on the “honor roll”. These beaches include: Ocean Beach at Balboa Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda and Montara State Beach.

The study focuses on examining pathogens that can cause intestinal problems, ear infections and skin irritations. Clean water is tested positive the most during the dry season. When it comes to the rainy season beaches can expect to have lower grades. Deb Self, the executive director of San Francisco Bay keeper, explains that beaches are dramatically worse during the rainy season.

San Francisco’s Baker Beach along with a few other places did not score high on water quality testing. The beaches were found to have high reports of bacteria flowing into the ocean. San Francisco is working alongside the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory to monitor the quality of water and to locate the source of coliform that enters the beach.

Water testing is important to ensure the safety of swimmers and surfers; however, the state Water Board cut money last year and it is uncertain how further studies will be paid for.