Massachusetts Beach Closures Soar: 88 Beaches Off-Limits

Attention beachgoers! The summer fun in Massachusetts is taking a nosedive as a whopping 88 beaches across the state are closed for swimming. That’s right, 88! All thanks to sky-high bacteria levels, according to the latest updates from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). Remember when the summer kicked off, and only around 20 beaches were off-limits? Good times. But as the season marched on, those numbers skyrocketed. Just yesterday, we hit a record with 72 beaches closed. And today, we’ve shattered that record with a staggering 88 closures. Yikes! Why So Many Massachusetts Beach Closures? Well, testing for bacteria happens frequently, though it varies from beach to beach. Some spots get checked daily, while others might only see a test once a month. It all depends on how likely a beach is to have water quality issues. If your favorite beach is prone to problems, it probably gets tested more often. But when those bacteria levels are too high, the beach gets the boot—at least until the water’s safe again. So, which beaches should you avoid this time? Here’s a quick rundown of the trouble spots: Boston: Constitution, Malibu, Tenean, and Savin Hill beaches Barnstable: Kalmus Ocean and Keyes Beach (Sea Street) Gloucester: Cressy’s, Good Harbor Creek, Half Moon, and Plum Cove Lynn: Kings and Lynn Shore Beach Revere: Revere and Short beaches Worcester: Lake Quinsigamond-Regatta Point Beach and Lake Park Beach The list goes on, with popular spots from Amherst to Winthrop closed due to unsafe conditions. And let’s not forget the cyanobacteria bloom—another nasty culprit—that’s also shutting down swimming at places like Wequaquet Lake in Barnstable and Waushakum Beach in Framingham. And just to add to the fun, Swampscott’s Fisherman’s Beach is closed due to—you guessed it—rainfall. Because, of course, when it rains, it pours (bacteria). Swimming in these contaminated waters can cause all kinds of misery, from nausea and diarrhea to skin rashes and even flu-like symptoms. It’s bad enough to ruin your day at the beach, and for kids, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, the risks are even higher. So, before you pack up the cooler and head out, check the latest beach status. Let’s hope this tide of closures turns soon.