Dozens of beaches in Massachusetts closed due to high bacteria levels in the water

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, in partnership with the Department of Recreation and Conservation, has closed more than 60 beaches and water locations across the state due to high bacteria levels.

High bacteria levels close beaches

“No, I didn’t know that. I think it’s really gross and I don’t go in the water,” said Caitlin Couture, a resident of Dorchester, at Savin Hill Beach.

DCR calls it excessive bacteria. They do weekly water quality tests to count bacteria levels. The Department of Public Health has posted signs warning people not to swim to avoid the risk of illness.

Michael Campbell has lived near Savin Hill Beach for 18 years and it doesn’t surprise him. That’s why he keeps his family on the waterfront.

“We just told him to wash our hands before we play, before we eat and keep our heads above water,” Campbell said.

Trevor Hawkins is extra careful with his dog Scout. “Knowing there’s a lot of bacteria in the water definitely keeps us away and we’re careful when she goes in. She doesn’t go any higher than knee-deep and we usually rinse her off in the showers.”

Morgan Ronzca said she wishes the no swimming signs were more prominent. “The only reason I know about it is because I work at a Boys and Girls Club,” Ronzca said.

Meanwhile, people on the beach enjoyed the fantastic weather on Sunday.

“It’s just a little frustrating when it’s really hot outside and you want to cool down, but it’s still nice to get outside and enjoy the breeze,” Campbell said.

The Public Health Service has indicated that they will continue to publish and update a list of closed beaches daily so that the public is well informed about which locations are closed and where it is safe to swim.

Which beaches are closed on Sundays?

• Amherst – Puffers Pond (bacterial excess)
• Amherst – Stanley Street Swimming Hole (Bacterial Excess)
• Ashby – Damon Pond Beach (bacterial excess)
• Ashland – Ashland Reservoir-Main Beach (bacterial exceedance)
• Athol – Ellis Beach (bacterial excess)
• Beverly – Dane Street (Bacterial Crossing)
• Beverly – Mingo (Bacterial Crossing)
• Boston – Constitution (bacterial overshoot)
• Boston – Malibu (Bacterial Crossing)
• Boston – Savin Hill (bacterial overshoot)
• Boston – Tenean (Bacterial Transgression)
• Braintree – Smith Beach (bacterial excess)
• Brewster – Upper Mill Pond (harmful cyanobacteria bloom)
• Concord – Walden Pond – Red Cross (Other)
• Danvers – Sandy Beach (bacterial excess)
• Dartmouth – Hidden Bay (CSO/SSO event)
• Dartmouth – Jones Town Beach North & South (CSO/SSO Event)
• Dartmouth – Moses Smith Creek (bacterial excess)
• Framingham – Learned Pond Beach (bacterial excess)
• Grafton – Silver Lake Beach (Other)
• Harwich – Sand Pond (Bloom of Harmful Cyanobacteria)
• Haverhill – Plugs Pond (bacterial overshoot)
• Hingham – Hingham Town Beach (bacterial excess)
• Holland – Collette Drive Beach (Bacterial Overshoot)
• Hubbardston – Asnacomet Pond Beach (bacterial excess)
• Lowell – Merrimac River – Bathhouse (bacterial excess)
• Lynn – Kings (Bacterial Crossing)
• Lynn – Lynn Shore Beach (Bacterial Overshoot)
• Nahant – Nahant Beach (bacterial excess)
• Nantucket – Sesachacha Pond (harmful cyanobacteria bloom)
• Natick – Cochituate State Park Beach (bacterial excess and harmful cyanobacteria blooms)
• North Andover – Stevens Pond – Center (bacterial excess)
• Northampton – Musante Beach (bacterial excess)
• Oxford – Carbuncle Pond (harmful cyanobacteria bloom)
• Salem – Camp Naumkeag (Other)
• Salem – Children’s Island – Back, Dock and Wally (Bacterial Crossing)
• Salem – Collins Cove (bacterial excess)
• Salem – Juniper Point (bacterial overshoot)
• Salem – Ocean Avenue (bacterial excess)
• Salem – Osgood (Bacterial Crossing)
• Salem – Willow Avenue (Bacterial Crossing)
• Saugus – Pearce Lake at Breakheart Reservation (bacterial excess)
• Shutesbury – Lake Wyola (bacterial excess)
• Springfield – Bass Pond (harmful cyanobacteria bloom)
• Swampscott – Fisherman’s (Bacterial Excess)
• Swampscott – Kings (Bacterial Crossing)
• Taunton – Watsons Pond (bacterial excess)
• Templeton – Beamans Pond (bacterial excess)
• Townsend – Pearl Hill Pond Beach (bacterial excess)
• Truro – Longnook (Other)
• Wayland – Wayland Town Beach (harmful cyanobacteria bloom)
• West Stockbridge – Card Pond Beach (bacterial excess)
• West Tisbury – Seth’s Pond (Bacterial Excess)
• Westboro – Lake Chauncey Beach (harmful cyanobacteria bloom)
• Williamstown – Margaret Lindley Park (bacterial excess)
• Winchendon – Lake Dennison State Park (bacterial excess)
• Winchester – Shannon Beach at Upper Mystic (bacterial excess)
• Winthrop – Halford (Bacterial Crossing)
• Winthrop – Winthrop Beach (bacterial excess)
• Worcester – Indian Lake Public Beach (Sherburne Avenue) (harmful cyanobacteria bloom)
• Worcester – Lake Quinsigamond – Lake Park Beach and Regatta Point Beach (bacterial excess)
• Worcester – Shore Park (harmful cyanobacteria bloom)