More than 30 Massachusetts beaches remain closed Wednesday ahead of Fourth of July

BOSTON — Many beaches across Massachusetts remain closed to swimmers Wednesday ahead of the Fourth of July holiday due to bacteria concerns.

As of Wednesday morning, 33 beaches, lakes, and ponds were closed, including popular destinations on Cape Cod and the Islands, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s interactive beach water quality dashboard.

Nearly all of those bodies of water are closed due to harmful bacteria levels, the dashboard indicated.

The dashboard is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. during beach season.

Below is the current list of active closures shown in the dashboard:

The water quality at beaches in Massachusetts is required to be monitored. This monitoring data helps local health officials determine when to close a beach due to unsafe conditions and notify the public so that beach visitors can make informed decisions about swimming at the beach.

The Environmental Protection Agency says the type of bacteria causing the problem live in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, as well as humans and it can be an indicator of fecal matter in the water.

Sources of the bacteria can include anything from stormwater runoff to wastewater treatment plant discharge to natural sources.

Swimming in unsafe waters can result in gastrointestinal and respiratory health issues, as well as blood and urinary tract infections.

The state conducts weekly water quality testing at the start of each week from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

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