Nearly 40 MA Beaches Closed As Stifling Heat Wave Scorches New England

SALEM, MA — Nearly 40 Massachusetts beaches were off limits to swimming heading into the third heat wave of the summer — an increase of three from late last week as temperatures are expected to soar into the 90s with high humidity in the coming days.

Most of the 39 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.

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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:

• Ashby Damon Pond Beach
• Ashland Reservoir Main Beach
• Ashland Hopinton Reservoir Upper Beach
• Beverly Brackenbury Beach
• Boston Tenean Beach
• Boston Constitution Beach (3 locations)
• Boston Malibu Beach
• Bourne Patuisset
• Bourne Catumet Harbor
• Brookfield South Pond
• Chatham Jacknife Harbor
• 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
• Lynn King's Beach (3 locations)
• Oxford Carbuncle Beach
• Quincy Wollaston Beach (4 Locations)
• Salem Children's Children's Island Back
• Salem Ocean Avenue
• Springfield Camp Wilder
• Swampscott King's Beach
• Swansea Leeside Beach
• Templeton Beamans Pond (2 sites)
• Westminster Crow Hill Pond
• Winchester Shannon Beach at Upper Mystic
• Winthrop Donovan's Pond
• Winthrop Halford Pond

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.

(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.)

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