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Rain Runoff Creates Bacteria-Infested Beaches

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Jul 2, 2009 6:52 pm US/Eastern

Rain Runoff Creates Bacteria-Infested Beaches

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Slideshow: Severe Summer Storms
Reporting
Eileen Curran
STERLING (WBZ) ― Twenty local beaches are closed and could remain so for the July Fourth holiday, including Wollaston Beach in Quincy and Carson Beach in South Boston.

The runoff from all the rain we've been having has caused bacteria levels to rise above acceptable swimming levels. State health officials say this is the biggest health issue we face from the rain, bigger than mold or even mosquitoes.

In Hingham, they haven't had to close a beach in about 10 years, so when 12-year-old Sean Cashel learned he couldn't go swimming at Bel Air Beach Thursday, you can understand why he was disappointed.

"I want to go swimming so bad," he said

Hingham's executive health officer, Bruce Capman says the levels are five times the limit and that can cause some nasty health problems for swimmers.

"You get ear infections, eye infections, you could get dysentery, things like that." he said.

The town hopes with the better weather coming and a little luck, they may be able to reopen Bel Air Beach by Sunday salvaging at least some of the holiday weekend. Sarah Cronin and her family live steps from the beach.

"Hopefully it will clear up soon," she said.

 Check the water quality at your favorite Massachusetts beach

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