No Swimming: Beachgoers warned about bacterial levels at local beaches

EAST BOSTON — If you’re looking to cool off from the latest heatwave, going for a swim in the ocean may not be the best idea.

The Dept. of Conservation and Recreation posted no swimming signs at 20 state beaches and waterfronts due to high levels of bacteria, including Constitution Beach in East Boston, Sandy Beach in Danvers, Wollaston Beach in Quincy and Forest Street Beach in Chatham.

DCR tests daily for bacterial levels at state-maintained waterfronts between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the agency said. If an area is “posted” that means the bacteria levels are high and no swimming signs will be put up along the beach and on the Dept. of Public Health website, according to a DCR spokesperson.

“Posting a waterfront is common and is caused by a variety of factors, including rainfall,” a DCR spokesperson said in an email.

Beachgoers at Constitution Beach said they had no idea about the bacteria warning. Most missed the single “no swimming” sign posted by the parking lot in East Boston. Jennifer Staples brought her 14-month-old daughter to the beach Friday.

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“I would hope that the signs would have been better posted so people could actually see them and stay out of the water,” Staples said.

Tom Stewart came to Constitution Beach with his wife and grandchild.

“We didn’t see anything,” Stewart said. “Yeah, we won’t go in the water. I didn’t even realize.”

DCR has a water quality hotline that provides callers wth daily updates: (617) 626-4972. The hotline is updated each morning by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

As of Aug. 27, the following beaches are posted:

UPPER NORTH SHORE

GLOUCESTER

Good Harbor Creek (posted on 6/29/21)

LOWER NORTH SHORE

BEVERLY

Obear Park (posted on 8/26/21)

DANVERS

Sandy Beach (posted on 8/25/21)

SALEM

Children’s Island (posted on 8/25/21)

GREATER BOSTON

BOSTON

Constitution (posted on 8/25/21)
Lovell’s Island (posted on 8/26/21)
Malibu (posted on 8/25/21)
Tenean (posted on 8/25/21)

QUINCY

Germantown Firestation (posted on 8/26/21)
Wollaston (posted on 8/25/21)

SOUTH SHORE

BRAINTREE

Smith Beach (posted on 8/26/21)

COHASSET

Bassing’s (posted on 8/26/21)

CAPE COD

FALMOUTH

Bike Path Beach (Trunk River) East (posted on 8/26/21)
Wood Neck River (posted on 8/26/21)

CHATHAM

Buck Creek (posted on 8/26/21)
Forest Street Beach (posted on 8/27/21)

No Swimming: Beachgoers warned about bacterial levels at local beaches