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"A newly released app called the Swim Guide directs users to the closest and cleanest beaches. Water quality data is sourced from government agencies to provide user information on the water cleanliness for more than 300 California beaches. \nCreated by the Waterkeeper Alliance, a network of 200 water protection groups around the globe, the app is available for iOS and Android devices. \n\u201CEvery year, millions of people get sick from coming into contact with polluted water at their local beaches,\u201D Pete Nichols, western director for the Waterkeeper Alliance said in a statement. \n\u201CThe Swim Guide provides a free, easy to use, way for beach goers to find a beach where their families can swim and enjoy the beach safely, \u201D he continued.\nThe Swim Guide has information on more than 1,300 beaches in California, Miami, Fla., Mobile, Ala., the Great Lakes, British Columbia and Alberta. Currently, the app is mostly focused on beaches in California. Eventually, it will expand to include beaches throughout North America, wrote TreeHugger.com. \nThe purpose of the Swim Guide app is to help beach goers avoid dirty beaches, but it also connects with your social networks so users can share photos of their beach days. Use the app to find directions to the beach, view photos and read beach rules. \nWith summer coming, apps related to outdoor activities have been popping up with more frequency \u2014 for example the rip tide awareness app. \nWould an app like this influence your summer beach trips? Tell us in the comments. \n\u202APhoto courtesy of iStockphoto, luoman\u202C"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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