Town Beach Closed

Town Beach-CLOSED

The Chatham Health District tests the water at the Town Beach on a weekly basis.

As of Friday, June 1, the weekly test showed higher than normal levels of bacteria. They will continue to test the water.  In the past, bacteria levels have been higher than normal when we experience significant, hard rain fall. The bacteria levels usually resolve themselves within a 24 hour period after the rain fall. Unfortunately, we have experienced daily, heavy rainfall.  There is also a growing number of geese at the Town Beach, and when they leave their droppings, the heavy rainfall washes the feces into the water, creating high levels of bacteria.  

In order to address this problem, we will be removing the sand in the waterfront area, replacing it with clean sand. We will clean up the goose droppings on a regular basis.  We will continue to test the water.

The water will be tested again on Monday, June 11 and the results will be available on Tuesday, June 12.  Until the water tests within normal levels of bacteria, the beach is closed for swimming and water activities.

We anticipate that the bacteria levels will return to normal next week when the weather looks to improve.  We have not cancelled any scheduled activities or programs and at this point we do not plan on canceling or closing the beach this summer.