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These are the cleanest beaches in Boston, according to a local group
South Boston’s beaches are among the cleanest urban beaches in the country, according to Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.
The report is in. And South Boston beaches once again ranked among the safest for beachgoers in the country, just in time for the impending heat wave.
According to the Save the Harbor/Save the Bay 2024 Beach Season Water Quality Report Card, Pleasure Bay and City Point beaches received a perfect rating, while Nantasket, M Street, and Carson Beaches continued to receive high grades.
Wollaston Beach in Quincy also performed well, scoring 88% for the third consecutive year, following improvements to stormwater and sewer systems over the past few years.
“It is no surprise to us that so many of these spectacular Boston area beaches continue to be some of the cleanest urban beaches in the country,” said the nonprofit’s director, Chris Mancini, in a statement. “That’s the power of strong science, dedicated advocacy and community organizing.”
The report utilizes data collected by the Department of Conservation and Recreation to evaluate water quality at public beaches along the Nahant to Nantasket coastline.
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Even though most of the region’s beaches performed within expectations, there was a “dramatic drop” at Savin Hill in Dorchester and a low rating for Nahant Beach, which is typically one of the region’s cleanest beaches, the release said.
Mancini said the organization is partnering with DCR, Save King’s Beach, and Northeastern University to collect daily samples this summer at Nahant Beach.
Mancini says she hopes the additional data will indicate whether there is a declining trend at the beach, possibly due to warming ocean temperatures or a new source of contamination, or if it is a coincidental variability resulting from the timing of the weekly tests.
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The latter, Mancini said, is the likely cause of the Savin Hill decline because it is adjacent to Malibu Beach and typically performs as well as that location.
DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo stated that, despite the rainfall this year, diligent water quality testing indicates that the region’s beaches remain safe places to visit.
However, he warned beachgoers to wait 24 hours after heavy rainfall before hitting the water. To err on the cautious side, he urged visitors to monitor DCR’s park alerts webpage for any impacts on swimming locations.
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is a nonprofit public interest advocacy organization founded in 1986, whose mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, and the marine environment for the public to enjoy.
“Through decades of smart policies and investment in critical infrastructure, our beaches continue to remain safe, clean spaces for gathering and enjoyment,” said Sen. Brendan Crighton, Co-Chair of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission.
He continued, “With the acceleration of climate change and growing threats to this environmental progress, we must double down on that commitment to ensure beaches remain resilient, equitable spaces for everyone.”
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