34 MA Beaches Closed To Start Heart Of Summer Swim Season

SALEM, MA — Thirty-three Massachusetts beaches were off limits to swimming ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend because of water contamination.

Most of the 34 beaches were closed because of high bacteria levels caused by storm runoff and other means of fecal contamination.

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 include:

• Ashby Damon Pond Beach
• Ashland Reservoir Main Beach
• Beverly Brackenbury Beach
• Brewster Upper Mill Pond
• Boston Tenean Beach
• Brewster Upper Mill Pond
• Brookfield South Pond
• Concord Walden Pond Main DCR Beach
• Danvers Sandy Beach
• Dartmouth Moses Smith Creek
• Dartmouth Jones Town Beach North
• Dartmouth Jones Town Beach South
• Eastham Sunken Meadow
• Falmouth Washburn Island
• Manchester Magnolia Beach
• Manchester West Beach
• Mashbee South Cape Beach
• New Marlborough York Lake Beach
• North Andover Frye Pond Beach
• Provincetown Town Landing Beach
• Quincy Wollaston Beach (4 Locations)
• Salem Children's Children's Island Back, Willow Avenue
• Saugus Peckham Pond
• Shrewsbury Sunset Beach
• Swansea Leeside Beach
• Shutesbury Lake Wyola
• Templeton Beamans Pond (2 sites)
• Westminster Crow Hill Pond
• Winchester Shannon 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.)