Sayville Beach Remains Closed

Nearly a week after the Suffolk County Department of Health closed Sayville Beach the waterfront spot remains off limits to bathers.

The beach, which was closed July 28, remains shut because of high levels of bacteria in the water, said Grace Kelly-McGovern, a spokesperson for the County Department of Health.

Upon closing the beach this past week, health department officials said they were unaware of what factors caused a rise in bacteria levels.

Kelly-McGovern did say that with beaches along the Great South Bay, the rise in bacteria levels typically occurs after runoff from heavy rains and thunderstorms.

“Unlike ocean beaches, which have a stronger tidal flow that serves to clean the water, the flow in the bay is not as strong and the water turnover is not as frequent,” she said.

While strong thunderstorms did move through the Sayville area Monday night, Kelly-McGovern said the health department was still investigating what caused the rise in bacteria at Sayville Beach.

She could not say when the beach might be reopened to bathers.