As temperatures near the 90s in some parts of Massachusetts on Saturday, over 40 beaches across the state will be closed.
In all, 44 beaches were closed as of 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 9. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s publicly available water quality dashboard is updated hourly every day — including weekends, and more than 1,100 public and semi-public beaches are regularly monitored.
On the Cape, Seymour Pond in Harwich and Satuit Pond at Bryants Neck and Town Landing were closed.
Most beaches were shuttered due to having dangerously high bacteria levels, and the majority of the rest were closed as a result of harmful cyanobacteria blooms. The one exception was the main beach at Walden Pond in Concord, which is closed for renovations all summer.
Even when beaches are closed, they are still safe for recreational activities other than swimming, according to state officials.
The full list of beach closures can be found below, or on the Department of Public Health‘s website.
What causes high bacteria levels at beaches?
Excessive bacterial growth at beaches can result from:
- Stormwater (rain) run-off
- Failing or malfunctioning septic systems
- Combined and sanitary sewer overflows
- Leaking sewer pipes
- Illegal sewer hookups
- Wildlife and pet waste
- Agricultural runoff
In order to ensure Massachusetts beaches are safe for swimming, state public health officials test the waters for bacteria anywhere from daily to monthly, depending on the beach’s popularity and how likely it is to have water quality issues, according to the public health department.
Beaches remain closed until laboratory analysis shows that bacteria levels have lessened enough that the water is again safe for swimming. Each analysis takes about 24 hours to complete, so beachgoers can expect their favorite spot to remain shuttered for at least a day following its initial closure, according to the public health department.
The risks of swimming at beaches with high bacteria levels
Swimming at a beach that has high bacteria levels can result in illness including:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms – nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain
- Respiratory symptoms – sore throat, cough, runny nose and sneezing
- Dermatological symptoms – skin rash and itching
- Eye and ear symptoms – irritation, earache and itching
- Flu-like symptoms – fever and chills
Members of the public can help prevent excessive bacterial growth at beaches by:
- Cleaning up after pets
- Refraining from feeding birds at the beach, as it encourages them to spend more time there and thus increases the amount of fecal matter they deposit
- Reminding children not to use the bathroom in the water
- Refraining from littering
- Refraining from swimming when sick or feeling unwell
- Using swim diapers with young children
- Avoiding the use of fertilizers and pesticides in yards
- Using walkways instead of sand dunes to prevent erosion of natural runoff barriers
Visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s website for more information about beach closures and water quality.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
