Local News

These 37 Mass. beaches are closed as heat wave gets underway

Nearly 40 beaches across Massachusetts are closed as of Monday, July 15 because of high bacteria levels, DPH said.

The beach at Walden Pond.
The beach at Walden Pond. Erin Clark/Globe Staff

By Eva Levin

2 minutes to read

Thirty-seven beaches across Massachusetts are closed Monday due to excess levels of bacteria, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). This announcement comes amidst a heat emergency in Boston, with high temperatures expected across the state. 

The majority of the beaches are closed due to what DPH calls “bacterial exceedance.” However, beaches in Dartmouth are shut down because of “Combined Sewer Overflow.” Officials ask would-be beachgoers to avoid these areas so as not to risk bacteria-borne illnesses. You can stay updated with the department’s notices at their Interactive Beach Water Quality Dashboard. 

Advertisement:

Earlier in the summer, DPH shut down 18 beaches for the same reason. The department also temporarily closed 50 beaches in July of 2023, and 40 the year before that. 

The DPH says bacteria levels tend to rise right after periods of heavy rainfall. Dirty runoff from the streets gathers excrement and other harmful bacteria in the sewers, which in turn can run into nearby bodies of water. The Commonwealth experienced some recent summer rain storms, which may be the cause of this spike of bacteria in open water. 

Swimming in unsafe water can potentially lead to a bevy of health problems. The most frequent and notable effect is Gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea and diarrhea. When ingested, bacteria can also cause flu-like symptoms, skin rashes, and eye-nose-throat problems.

Advertisement:

It is unclear when the beaches will reopen. Water testing results take 24 hours, the DPH says, so results typically come out the next day. For now, the department warns beachgoers to be vigilant and check their interactive beach water quality dashboard. 

List of beaches closed as of Monday

Ashby

  • Damon Pond Beach

Ashland

  • Ashland Reservoir 
  • Hopkinton Reservoir 

Ayer

  • Ayer Town Beach

Barnstable

  • Keyes Beach (Sea Street)

Boston

  • Malibu Beach
  • Tenean Beach 

Charlemont

  • Cold River Pond

Chatham

  • Bucks Creek

Clarksburg

  • Mauserts Pond

Concord

  • Walden Pond

Danvers

  • Sandy Beach

Dartmouth

  • Hidden Bay
  • Jones Town Beach North
  • Jones Town Beach South

Dennis

  • Clipper Lane

Gardner

  • Dunn Pond

Great Barrington

  • Lake Mansfield

Lunenburg

  • Lunenburg Town Beach

Mashpee

  • John’s Pond 

Nahant

  • Black Rock

Provincetown

  • 637 Commercial Street

Quincy

  • Broady 

Rutland

  • Whitehall Pond Beach

Salem

  • Camp Naumkeag
  • Children’s Island
  • Ocean Avenue

Swampscott

  • Kings Beach

Templeton

  • Beamans Pond  

Truro

  • Longnook Beach

West Stockbridge

  • Card Pond Beach

West Tisbury

  • Long Cove 

Winchester

  • Shannon Beach @ Upper Mystic

Worcester

  • Lake Quinsigamond-Regatta Point Beach

Yarmouth

  • Vernon Street
Profile image for Eva Levin

Eva Levin

Eva Levin is a general assignment co-op for Boston.com. She covers breaking and local news in Boston and beyond.

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com