Nearly 3 Dozen MA Beaches Closed As Dangerous Heat Scorches New England

SALEM, MA — Nearly three dozen Massachusetts beaches were off limits to swimming heading into what is expected to be one of the hottest days of the summer — as temperatures challenge the record high of 97 degrees in Boston and 94 degrees in Worcester on Tuesday.

Heat indexes are expected to reach as high as 105 degrees on Tuesday, with the National Weather Service issuing a Heat Advisory for much of the state through Wednesday night.

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Most of the 34 beaches were closed because of high bacteria levels caused by storm runoff and other means of fecal contamination, while a small number of the ponds are suffering from a harmful algae bloom. Water quality at public beaches in Massachusetts is required to be monitored by local public health departments.

When the water quality is unsafe, the beach must be "posted" with a sign indicating that swimming is unsafe and may cause illness. The main beach at Walden Pond in Concord is closed for the season because of safety concerns associated with the construction of a new bathhouse.

Massachusetts beaches closed as of 10 a.m. on Tuesday include:

• Ashland Hopkinton Reservoir Upper Beach
• Barnstable Keyes Beach (Sea Street)
• Beverly Brackenbury Beach
• Boston Constitution Beach (3 locations)
• Brewster Upper Mill Pond
• Chelmsford Freeman Lake
• Concord Walden Pond Main DCR Beach
• Danvers Sandy Beach
• Dartmouth Moses Smith Creek
• Eastham Cook's Beach
• Holden Eagle Lake
• Mashpee Bryant's Neck
• Mashpee Town Landing
• Methuen Forest Lake Swimming Beach
• North Attleborough Falls Pond
• Oxford Carbuncle Beach
• Pittsfield Lulu Pond Beach (DCR)
• Provincetown Winston Ave Beach
• Salem Children's Children's Island
• Salem Ocean Avenue
• Springfield Camp Wilder
• Swampscott King's Beach
• Templeton Beamans Pond (2 sites)
• Townsend Pearl Hill Pond Beach
• Upton Town Beach
• Westfield Kingsley Beach
• Westfield Lamberts Beach
• Winchendon Lake Dennison North Camp Beach
• Winchendon Lake Dennison Day Use Beach
• Winthrop Donovan's Pond
• Winthrop Halford Beach

The bacteria used as indicator organisms to test the waters at beaches are Enterococci and E. coli. Marine beaches are tested for the presence of Enterococci. Freshwater beaches are tested either for the presence of E. coli or Enterococci. Enteric bacteria are indicator organisms found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and humans, often associated with fecal contamination.

An elevated presence of these organisms indicates the water may not be safe for human or animal consumption or contact, and cause symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal pain to eye and ear discomfort to flu-like symptoms.

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

Some beach areas may remain open for recreational activities, though any contact with the water is strongly discouraged.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)