Health & Fitness

Sorry, Folks, Beaches Still Closed 'Until Further Notice' Per East Shore District Health Department

It's déjà vu all over again. Branford and East Haven public beaches are closed for swimming pending bacterial test results.

Life's a beach ... until torrential rains close it.
Life's a beach ... until torrential rains close it. (Ellyn Santiago/Patch)

BRANFORD, CT — Thursday morning, the East Shore District Health Department said that until further notice, Branford and East Haven public beaches, as well as all shellfish beds, are closed to swimming.

In Branford, Johnsons Beach, also known as Short Beach; Stony Creek Beach; and Branford Point Beach are all closed to swimming.

In East Haven, the town beach is closed.

Find out what's happening in Branfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The Health District conducts weekly beach water testing throughout the summer months. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established bacterial standards for marine beaches to determine acceptable levels. If one sample exceeds the acceptable limit, a resample is taken to determine if the beach should be closed.

Following beach closure, additional sampling is conducted until acceptable limits are reached. ESHD implements pre-emptive beach closures based on rainfall. If rainfall within a 24-hour timeframe exceeds a certain limit, the beach will be closed and resampled until water quality is acceptable

Find out what's happening in Branfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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