20 MA Beaches Now Closed Due To Excessive Bacteria Levels: Latest

MASSACHUSETTS — Sun and swim season is about to kick off, but 20 beaches across Massachusetts — from Great Barrington to Lynn — are now closed due to excessive levels of bacteria, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Tuesday.

The number is up from the 18 reported closed Tuesday. Some beaches that were closed Tuesday and over the weekend are now open, but a few additional beaches were added to the list.

The state's Department of Conservation and Recreation opened 81 freshwater and saltwater beaches for the season just before Memorial Day weekend. But the fun quickly came to a halt by the following weekend, when many beaches began to close.

"In general, when beaches are closed, elevated bacteria is a result of a preceding rainstorm is responsible for the closure," a representative for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health told Patch Wednesday. "This is because the rain washes the bacteria or excessive nutrients on land into the water and the nutrients allow small populations of bacteria to rapidly reproduce to unsafe levels."

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The water testing frequency at beaches in the state varies from beach to beach, but tests occur anywhere from daily to monthly, officials said, adding that testing frequency depends on how likely the beach is to have water quality issues.

Beaches found to have high bacteria levels are reopened for swimming after a test result shows bacteria levels below DPH standards.

According to the DPH, Swimming in unsafe waters can cause illnesses with the following symptoms:

• Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
• Respiratory symptoms like sore throat, cough, runny nose, and sneezing
• Dermatological symptoms like skin rash and itching
• Eye and ear symptoms like irritation, earache, and itching
• Flu-like symptoms like fever and chills

Most of these symptoms are minor, but a more serious illness may occasionally occur, officials said. Children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk for illness.

According to the state's beach water quality dashboard — which is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. — the following beaches are closed due to bacterial exceedance as of Wednesday morning.

See Also: Summer Heat Brings Plenty Of Fun, Danger Warnings To MA

Templeton, MA

Beamans Pond - Campground

Beamans Pond - Day Use

Ashby, MA

Damon Pond Beach

Charlemont, MA

Cold River Pool

Chicopee, MA

Chicopee Beach

Dennis, MA

Clipper Lane

Greenfield, MA

Greenfield Municipal Bathing Beach

Ashland, MA

Hopkinton Reservoir-Main Beach Hopkinton Reservoir-Upper Beach

Worcester, MA

Lake Quinsigamond-Regatta Point Beach

Lynn, MA

Lynn Shore Beach

Clarksburg, MA

Mauserts Pond

Westford, MA

NVSR: Tiki Pond 1

Great Barrington, MA

Old Maid's Park

Saugus, MA

Pearce Lake @ Breakheart Reservation

Townsend, MA

Pearl Hill Pond Beach

Winchester, MA

Shannon Beach @ Upper Mystic

Quincy, MA

Wollaston @ Channing Street

Wollaston @ Sachem Street

The following beach is closed due to harmful cyanobacteria bloom:

Natick, MA

Cochituate State Park Beach

And the following beach is closed for a reason not listed:

Great Barrington, MA

Lake Mansfield

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