Over the last few weeks, multiple local communities along the South Coast have issued alerts that their beaches would be closed, followed by a notice they were reopened a few days later. The Tri-Town was no different.
On July 6, water samples were taken off Silvershell Beach in Marion. Tests yielded high bacteria levels, with the state Department of Public Health’s Division of Environmental Toxicology, Hazard Assessment and Prevention issuing a “Bacterial Exceedance” posting to the town. Due to this, across the harbor, portions of Silvershell Beach were closed the following days and were reopened by town issuance on July 9. Similarly, beaches off Converse Road received the same warning and closure.
Similarly, tests on June 30 led to the closure of Town Beach in Mattapoisett until July 1. Tests like this are conducted weekly through the summer, ending post-season on September 12.
There is no epicenter of bacteria nor concentration of beach closures around the state at any given time. Currently, the Bacterial Exceedance posting is sporadic though highly monitored by the state’s DPH. They state that the high levels of bacteria generally arise from stormwater runoff carrying bacteria from septic systems following this month’s heavy storms.
In the last week, over 50 Massachusetts beaches have temporarily closed due to this same posting. The DPH warns that exposure can lead to skin irritation or digestive/respiratory discomfort.
State beach statuses are put in a central database by the state and can be viewed at www.mass.gov/info-details/interactive-beach-water-quality-dashboard. Currently, all the town beaches are open, and summer festivities go on, weather permitting.
By Sam Bishop