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.

Brackenbury, Dane Street, Mingo, Obear Park, Woodbury

https://patch.com/massachusetts/beverly/6-beverly-beaches-closed-swimming-high-bacteria-levels

Tanean, Savin Hill, Malibu and Constitution Beach

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/video/bacteria-in-water-closes-50-beaches-across-massachusetts/

Bucks Creek is located in Chatham's south coast.

https://www.chatham-ma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx

Clipper Lane and Follins Pond

https://www.town.dennis.ma.us/beach-department

Landing Road and West End. Here is the town page with the latest updates:

https://www.town.duxbury.ma.us/beach-operations

Old Silver - Public Beach North. Keep checking the following site for the latest updates

https://www.falmouthma.gov/151/Beach

Martin's Cove, North Beach. Keep checking the town page for the latest information.

https://www.hingham-ma.gov/479/Trustees-of-the-Bathing-Beach

Kings Beach, Lynn Beach

https://lynn-nahantbeach.org/environmental/

Green Harbor. Here is the website with the latest information

https://www.marshfield-ma.gov/home/news/green-harbor-beach-no-longer-posted

Black Rock and Nahant Beach. This site has the latest information on beach water testing in Nahant.

https://nahant.org/coastalresources/dcr-beach-water-testing/

Chikatawbot, Germantown Firestation, Wollaston Beach. The city of Quincy site will have the latest information on closures. 

https://www.quincyma.gov/departments/natural_resources/park/beaches.php

Revere Beach, Short Beach. This site will have the latest on Revere beach closures

https://www.mass.gov/locations/revere-beach-reservation

Ocean Avenue, Steps and Willow Avenue. Here is the latest information on Salem beaches.

https://www.salem.org/things-to-do/outdoors/

Kings Beach. Here is the latest information on Swampscott beaches.

https://www.swampscottma.gov/recreation/pages/swampscott-beaches

Hilman's Point here is the latest information 

https://www.theswimguide.org/beach/4066

Forbes and Swifts

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/beaches-in-wareham-closed-due-to-bacteria/3083864/#:~:text=Updated%20on%20July%206%2C%202023%20at%206%3A24%20pm&text=Five%20beaches%20in%20Wareham%2C%20Massachusetts,to%20swimming%20until%20further%20notice.

Donovans, Halford, Pico, Winthrop beach (keep checking the following site for the latest)

https://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/home/news/donovans-beach-currently-closed-1