All beaches on Newburyport’s Plum Island have been closed to swimming after tests have shown elevated levels of bacteria, the city announced on Tuesday.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health informed the city that its beaches had elevated levels of bacteria during testing last week, the city announced in a statement. The testing forced the closure of Plum Island Point Beach. However, follow-up testing on Monday showed that the bacteria levels for the past five tests was above the state’s allowable limit.
The updated closure includes Plum Island Point Beach and the beach through the pathway at 55th Street, the city said.
“The City will continue to monitor water quality and take water samples for testing several times on Wednesday and Thursday,” Newburyport officials said. “Beaches will reopen when testing shows levels within the State’s allowable limit.”
The state’s Health Department tests Plum Island beaches weekly at four testing areas, including 55th Street and Plum Island Point, the city said.
Despite the beaches closure, the public can visit the beach as long as they do not enter the water, the city said.
