New England is home to some of the most iconic and beautiful beach areas in the United States — think Massachusetts’ Cape Cod; Narragansett Beach in Rhode Island; or Old Orchard Beach in Maine. Each year, often well into September, millions of Americans immerse themselves in the waves and fresh sea air in this part of the country.
While beach visits can provide healthy doses of outdoor exercise and vitamin D from the sun, they may also expose you and your family to hidden hazards. According to a new report called Safe for Swimming?, from Environment America Research & Policy Center, fecal bacteria tainted the water on at least one day in 2024 at a majority of beaches tested in each New England state.
Authorities found potentially unsafe levels of these bacteria, which cause an estimated 57 million illnesses a year in the U.S., at 89% of Connecticut’s tested beaches, 78% of Maine’s, 69% of New Hampshire’s, 59% of Rhode Island’s, and 58% of Massachusetts’. Related problems include ear and eye infections, respiratory disease, skin rashes and gastrointestinal illness.
That doesn’t mean you need to be scared of the water. You just need to be careful — and informed before you spend Labor Day or one of your last summer weekends at a New England beach.
Here are seven ways to ensure your favorite New England beach spot is safe for swimming:
- Learn if your favorite New England beach historically contains pollution.
States vary in how frequently and widely they test their beaches. But you can usually get at least some information about how often contaminated waters lapped up on your favorite beach last year..
Environment America Research & Policy Center’s Safe for Swimming? dashboard includes all the New England states. This state-specific resource will show you the number of days each beach tested positive for potentially unsafe levels of fecal indicator bacteria in 2024. Scroll down and use the alphabetical dropdown menu to check out the data from the state that boasts your beach destination.
If your beach did routinely have unsafe pollution levels in 2024, that doesn’t mean it isn’t safe to swim today, next weekend, or next week. But you should make sure to follow the safety tips and recommendations below.
- Check for beach closures and health advisories.
Before leaving home, make sure that your favorite beach spot is open for swimming. Bacteria and algae prompted authorities to close 58 Massachusetts beaches ahead of last weekend.
You can find that information out without leaving home.We’ve created this simple tool to help you discover up-to-date information from various state and local health departments.
If you can’t find sufficient information online about whether a certain beach is safe for swimming, phone your local or state health department.
- After a heavy storm, avoid swimming at the beach for 72 hours.
It’s a good practice to steer clear of swimming immediately after a storm, which can flood sewer systems to the point of overflowing. When this happens, raw bacteria- and virus-laden sewage may flow straight into bodies of water. In farming areas, heavy rains may also push agricultural runoff into waterways. While there’s no hard and fast rule, some public health officials suggest waiting three days after a heavy downpour to allow time for contaminants to disperse and dilute.
- Toxic algae can also make you sick
In freshwater – including ponds, lakes and rivers – toxic algae poses one of the greatest health risks to people — and pets — trying to enjoy a swim. Toxic algae blooms happen when excess phosphorus — from livestock manure, sewage, or industrial sources — pollutes the water.
In Massachusetts in 2024, toxic blue-green algae caused 863 beach closure days, 111 days more than in 2023. All of these closures were in ponds, lakes, rivers or other freshwater.
- Infections can happen anywhere
Swimming with an open cut or wound is a bad idea. Contaminated water could lead to an infection. And if your ability to fight germs is already impacted by existing health issues or medications, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that you check with your healthcare provider before taking a dip.
- Be aware of major pollution sources upstream from your beach
Some beaches are much more prone to pollution than others, depending on nearby facilities that could impact water quality. You’ll want to be extra attentive to beach conditions downstream from sewage or stormwater outfall pipes, or farmland.
- Use common sense
When you get to the beach, look for posted signs. If there’s a warning or a closure — whether for pollution, strong tides or any other reason — don’t ignore it. And even if the beach is open, if the water looks or smells funny, that may be reason enough not to take a dip. In general, the cloudier and dirtier the water, the more risky it is.
What’s making waters unsafe?
Want to take a deeper dive on beach bacteria and how we can prevent it? Check out the Safe for Swimming? report
Authors
John directs Environment America’s efforts to protect our rivers, lakes, streams and drinking water. John’s areas of expertise include lead and other toxic threats to drinking water, factory farms and agribusiness pollution, algal blooms, fracking and the federal Clean Water Act. He previously worked as a staff attorney for Alternatives for Community & Environment and Tobacco Control Resource Center. John lives in Brookline, Mass., with his family, where he enjoys cooking, running, playing tennis, chess and building sandcastles on the beach.
Emily is the senior director for state organizations for The Public Interest Network. She works nationwide with the state group directors for PIRG and Environment America to help them build stronger organizations and achieve greater success. Emily was the executive director for CALPIRG from 2009-2021, overseeing a myriad of CALPIRG campaigns to protect public health, protect consumers in the marketplace, and promote a robust democracy. Emily works in our Oakland, California, office, and loves camping, hiking, gardening and cooking with her family.
