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Travel + Leisure

Popular Beaches Across the U.S. Are Closed Due to High Levels of Bacteria—What Travelers Need to Know

A beach visit and cool dip in the ocean are the perfect way to beat the summer heat. But beach-goers throughout the U.S. may want to take caution, as more than 20 beaches have recently closed due to high amounts of bacteria in the water. The closures were published based on a series of data collected from the State of Massachusetts Division of Environmental Toxicology, Hazard Assessment and Prevention, or TOX. The agency publishes the reports in an online dashboard tracker. For example, within the town of Rockport, the Long Beach is temporarily closed due to a level of "10" in the bacteria reading of Enterococci. Other beach closures included Damon Pond Beach in Ashby, Sandy Beach in Danvers, Henry F Collins Beach in Marlborough, Cochituate State Park Beach in Natick, and Shannon Beach in Winchester. Despite the advisories and closures, swimmers and other beach-goers braved the elements and went swimming in the bacteria-filled water, NBC Boston reports. While the list topped 20 different beaches on June 29, the list dropped to 14 beaches at the time of publication. Across the United States, other beaches are also closed due to high bacteria. In King County, Washington—which includes Seattle—Madison Park, Madrona Park, Matthews Beach, and West Green Lake Beach are among those closed due to high bacteria, according to a Seattle government website. Imperial Beach in California, which shares a border with Mexico, was recently ranked as one of the highest and dirtiest beaches in the United States, due to runoff from the Tijuana River which includes sewage, according to a recent advisory. Visitors to Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area between Arizona and Utah are advised to exercise caution when swimming and not ingest the water due to potential sewage or potentially harmful algae, according to a National Park Service advisory. Before heading into the water of a beach, experts advise swimmers to carefully review any signs or placards about the water conditions in their community. "Be aware of any signs indicating the beach is closed or the water is not safe because of bacteria, riptides or other hazards," the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises. "In areas that are not monitored regularly, choose swimming sites in less developed areas with good water circulation, such as beaches at the ocean."The EPA specifically advises against swimming near water polluted by sewage, or cyanobacteria, which can cause algae blooms.