Latest news with #swimmingsafety
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
High bacteria levels prompt closures for these Mass. beaches
Due to high levels of bacteria in these bodies of water, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has closed them for the time being. In total, four beaches are closed, three of which are located in Boston and one in Concord, according to the DPH. The purpose of Concord's Walden Pond closure is to accommodate facility repair work, according to the DPH, which noted that Red Cross Beach will remain open, weather permitting. Once the project is complete, the beach will reopen. Constitution, Malibu, and Tenean beaches in Boston, however, are closed with the reasoning being 'bacteria excess.' Bacteria in the water can come from a variety of sources, including: Stormwater (rain) run-off Failing or malfunctioning septic systems Combined and sanitary sewer overflows Leaking sewer pipes Illegal sewer hookups Wildlife and pet waste Agricultural runoff In order to ensure beaches are safe for swimming, the DPH tests the waters anywhere from daily to monthly, depending on how likely the beach is to have water quality issues and its popularity. If a beach is used often or is prone to water quality issues, then it's tested more often and vice versa, the DPH wrote. Beaches remain closed until laboratory analysis shows bacteria levels are within the acceptable range for safe swimming. 'Laboratory analysis for all beach samples takes approximately 24 hours,' according to the department's website. 'So it is common for a beach closure to last a day or two following an exceedance.' Swimming in beach water that has high levels of bacteria can be risky and can result in illnesses, including: Gastrointestinal symptoms- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain Respiratory symptoms- sore throat, cough, runny nose and sneezing Dermatological symptoms- skin rash and itching Eye and ear symptoms- irritation, earache, itching Flu-like symptoms- fever and chills Therefore, it's important to check for any warnings or beach closures indicating that the water could be unsafe. To do this, done check the weather, avoid swimming after heavy rain, watch for signs of water pollution like discolored, fast flowing and strong smelling water, do not swim near trash or litter floating in the water, avoid swallowing the water and swim in areas designated as 'swim beaches.' Although a beach could be posted, the public can still visit the location and take part in other activities that don't involve contact with the water. This can include anything from playing sports like volleyball or frisbee to sunbathing or collecting seashells or sea glass, the DPH said. The public can also do its part in helping to reduce contamination and pollution at the beach by: Cleaning up after pets Not feeding the birds as it encourages them to hang around the beaches, which increases fecal matter Using public restrooms Picking up and throwing away trash using public restrooms or properly disposing of it at home Not entering the water when sick or feeling unwell Changing diapers and putting plastic or rubber pants, known as swim diapers, on diapered children before they enter the water Not dumping anything down storm drains, as water moving through these drains does not get treated at a wastewater facility and flows directly into lakes and streams Avoiding the use of fertilizers and pesticides in yards since these chemicals can easily carry into the surface of waters during rain events and snowmelt Use walkways and avoid walking on dunes to prevent erosion and preserve vegetation that filters out pollutants from runoff before they reach the beach More details from the DPH can be found here. Street flooding possible in Mass. Saturday due to widespread showers, thunderstorms Pentagon boss Hegseth warns of 'devastating' consequences if China looks to 'conquer' Taiwan RFK Jr. slammed raw milk shots with podcast host in the White House Major Trump foe says Republicans keep approaching her with shocking message 'Turning a blind eye to genocide': Mass. Rep. Neal's visit to Ireland protested Read the original article on MassLive.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
App to show water quality at Shrewsbury River Severn bathing site
Sensors to monitor water quality are going to be placed on part of the River Severn and data from them will be fed into a wild swimming devices will allow the Environment Agency to check up on bacteria, including E. coli, in the waterway in Shrewsbury at the town's designated bathing use of the sensors will let the agency take readings remotely every day alongside manual readings which have to be taken by staff on site, each week, during the bathing app will be made available to the public and show swimmers when it is safe to enter the water and when to avoid swimming, a spokesperson for the agency said. A similar system was set up on the Linney in Ludlow and programme manager Matt Smith said the data collected there "helped build a better picture of the levels and types of bacteria in the watercourse".He said this was used to give the agency a better understanding about where the bacteria came from, how the environment affected them and their effect on their bathing sites in the Severn were decided in May 2024 so there was little current information available on bacteria in the river, a Shropshire Council spokesperson Miller, from the Shropshire Bluetits wild swimming group, said the app was "really exciting"."We love swimming in the river, but we always have to bear in mind water quality, so this is very reassuring," she said."It's great for families and reassuring for parents, it's a fantastic initiative"The bathing season traditionally begins on 15 May and runs until 30 smartphone app, Wild Swimming Shropshire, was developed by the River Severn Partnership, a group which includes the council and the agency. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
