Due to high levels of bacteria in these bodies of water, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has closed them for the time being.
In total, four beaches are closed, three of which are located in Boston and one in Concord, according to the DPH.
The purpose of Concord’s Walden Pond closure is to accommodate facility repair work, according to the DPH, which noted that Red Cross Beach will remain open, weather permitting. Once the project is complete, the beach will reopen.
Constitution, Malibu, and Tenean beaches in Boston, however, are closed with the reasoning being “bacteria excess.”
Bacteria in the water can come from a variety of sources, including:
Stormwater (rain) run-offFailing or malfunctioning septic systemsCombined and sanitary sewer overflowsLeaking sewer pipesIllegal sewer hookupsWildlife and pet wasteAgricultural runoff
In order to ensure beaches are safe for swimming, the DPH tests the waters anywhere from daily to monthly, depending on how likely the beach is to have water quality issues and its popularity.
If a beach is used often or is prone to water quality issues, then it’s tested more often and vice versa, the DPH wrote.
Beaches remain closed until laboratory analysis shows bacteria levels are within the acceptable range for safe swimming.
“Laboratory analysis for all beach samples takes approximately 24 hours,” according to the department’s website. “So it is common for a beach closure to last a day or two following an exceedance.”
Swimming in beach water that has high levels of bacteria can be risky and can result in illnesses, including:
Gastrointestinal symptoms- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal painRespiratory symptoms- sore throat, cough, runny nose and sneezingDermatological symptoms- skin rash and itchingEye and ear symptoms- irritation, earache, itchingFlu-like symptoms- fever and chills
Therefore, it’s important to check for any warnings or beach closures indicating that the water could be unsafe. To do this, done check the weather, avoid swimming after heavy rain, watch for signs of water pollution like discolored, fast flowing and strong smelling water, do not swim near trash or litter floating in the water, avoid swallowing the water and swim in areas designated as “swim beaches.”
Although a beach could be posted, the public can still visit the location and take part in other activities that don’t involve contact with the water. This can include anything from playing sports like volleyball or frisbee to sunbathing or collecting seashells or sea glass, the DPH said.
The public can also do its part in helping to reduce contamination and pollution at the beach by:
Cleaning up after petsNot feeding the birds as it encourages them to hang around the beaches, which increases fecal matterUsing public restroomsPicking up and throwing away trash using public restrooms or properly disposing of it at homeNot entering the water when sick or feeling unwellChanging diapers and putting plastic or rubber pants, known as swim diapers, on diapered children before they enter the waterNot dumping anything down storm drains, as water moving through these drains does not get treated at a wastewater facility and flows directly into lakes and streamsAvoiding the use of fertilizers and pesticides in yards since these chemicals can easily carry into the surface of waters during rain events and snowmeltUse walkways and avoid walking on dunes to prevent erosion and preserve vegetation that filters out pollutants from runoff before they reach the beach
More details from the DPH can be found here.
