Want to Cool Off? Do NOT Go To Any Of These Massachusetts Beaches
Believe it or not, there are still several Massachusetts beaches still closed due to high bacteria levels. This is most certainly an inconvenience seeing as this week in particular will…
NORTH ANDOVER, MA – MAY 3: The American Legion Beach at Stevens Pond posts a sign noting that it is closed on May 3, 2020 in North Andover, MA. The pond is the town’s one municipal beach. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)Believe it or not, there are still several Massachusetts beaches still closed due to high bacteria levels. This is most certainly an inconvenience seeing as this week in particular will be a very hot one. Meteorologists are predicting highs in the mid 90s on Thursday and Friday which will be some of the highest temperatures so far this summer. If you're planning on going to the beach, you need to keep reading to ensure you don't end up at one that has been closed due to high bacteria levels.
Now what is causing these high bacteria levels is still unclear. From what is being reported,the heavy rainfall we have experienced lately has caused flooding and contamination. What's worse, is that swimming in contaminated water can cause everything from respiratory issues, to rashes to gastrointestinal problems. These beaches are among the ones still closed as of the weekend: Beverly, Boston, Braintree, Chatham, Danvers, Duxbury, Eastham, Framingham, Gloucester, Ipswich, Lynn, Mashpee, Milton, Nantucket, Newburyport, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Swampscott, Swansea, Templeton, Wareham, Winchester, Winthrop and Worcester.
What is being done to clean up Massachusetts beaches? There is currently an organization called COASTSWEEP. COASTSWEEP is a statewide annual beach cleanup organized by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management. They are currently accepting volunteers and if you'd like to volunteer your time, you can click HERE. Common items found on beaches include cigarette butts, plastic pieces, water bottles, bottle caps and food wrappers.
To keep yourself updated on the most current status of your favorite beach, you can go to the Mass.gov website. This website is updated daily and will be your most reliable and up to date destination for beach closures. If you want to know the latest as of Monday morning, July 24th, keep scrolling. Just make sure you definitely plan ahead!
High Levels of Human Waste Shut Down These Massachusetts Beaches
It's officially summer which usually means, extensive trips to area beaches. Beaches are what keep us refreshed, relaxed and cooled off. We have hundreds of beaches in and around New England and some of the best in the country right here in Massachusetts. If you're planning on taking a trip to an area beach anytime soon, you should be aware of unusually high bacteria being found in some of them. Many of these beaches have been closed and are awaiting word of when they can reopen.
The reason for the closing has been listed as "high levels of bacteria." So what does this really mean? Well, as nasty as it is to think about, human waste is one of those reasons. According to Clean Water Action state co-director Maureo Fernandez Y Mora "When it rains the sewage overflows back up and then we get sewage running into water sources." The way these elevated levels of bacteria can be treated is by applying algicide and herbicide to the water.
When water quality is deemed "unsafe," there must be a sign posted letting people know. When swimming in water that is deemed "unsafe," several things can happen. You can get a fever, chills, diarrhea, vomiting and several other health issues. So swimming in these beaches while the bacteria is elevated is not safe and you should avoid at all costs. As to when these beaches will reopen, that has yet to be determined. You are prompted to keep checking your local town websites before taking any trip to area beaches. It would be a shame to pack up the car, cooler, kids etc. only to find out your favorite beach is closed. At last glance, these following beaches have been closed due to high bacteria levels. Keep checking back for updates daily.
Beverly (several beaches)
Brackenbury, Dane Street, Mingo, Obear Park, Woodbury
Boston (4 beaches)
Tanean, Savin Hill, Malibu and Constitution Beach
Chatham
Bucks Creek is located in Chatham's south coast.
Dennis (two beaches)
Clipper Lane and Follins Pond
Duxbury (two beaches)
Landing Road and West End. Here is the town page with the latest updates:
Falmouth
Old Silver - Public Beach North. Keep checking the following site for the latest updates
Hingham (two beaches)
Martin's Cove, North Beach. Keep checking the town page for the latest information.
Lynn (two beaches)
Kings Beach, Lynn Beach
Marshfield
Green Harbor. Here is the website with the latest information
Nahant (two beaches)
Black Rock and Nahant Beach. This site has the latest information on beach water testing in Nahant.
Quincy (3 beaches)
Chikatawbot, Germantown Firestation, Wollaston Beach. The city of Quincy site will have the latest information on closures.
Revere (two beaches)
Revere Beach, Short Beach. This site will have the latest on Revere beach closures
Salem (3 beaches)
Ocean Avenue, Steps and Willow Avenue. Here is the latest information on Salem beaches.
Swampscott
Kings Beach. Here is the latest information on Swampscott beaches.
Tisbury
Hilman's Point here is the latest information
Wareham (two beaches)
Forbes and Swifts
Winthrop (four beaches)
Donovans, Halford, Pico, Winthrop beach (keep checking the following site for the latest)
