Why San Bernardino California Is Considered America's Dirtiest City
By Cheryl Kochenderfer
VACATIONS
While San Bernardino, California is a popular West Coast destination and boasts nearly a quarter million residents, it is one of the dirtiest cities in the United States.
San Bernardino's status as America's dirtiest city is based on data from a Lawnstarter ranking based on air pollution, water quality, waste management, and resident satisfaction.
San Bernardino received an overall score of 54.9, beating out cities like Detroit, Newark, and Las Vegas. The area’s air is very polluted, largely thanks to its shipping industry.
The water is also questionable. Epic Water Filters says that San Bernardino's water is contaminated with high levels of arsenic, chromium, and nitrates.
The Lawnstarter survey found that 93.8% of San Bernardino residents found the city dirty and untidy. Overcrowded homes, poverty, and high unemployment also plague the region.