In 2024, 47 out of 563 Massachusetts coastal beaches were deemed unsafe for swimming due to high levels of fecal bacteria, testing unsafe for about 25% of testing days. A total of 226 beaches, equating to 58%, recorded potentially dangerous levels of fecal indicator bacteria on at least one testing occasion. Pollution from runoff and sewer overflows is a primary cause, impacting various coastal locations, including Boston and Cape Cod. Health risks associated with swimming in polluted waters include rashes, diarrhea, ear infections, and nausea.
"Even as Massachusetts residents are back to enjoying the fresh sea breeze and splash of waves at the beach, pollution is still plaguing too many of the places where we swim. Now is the time to fix our water infrastructure and stop the flow of nasty bacteria and pollution to our beaches," said John Rumpler, clean water director for Environment Massachusetts.
The polluted water is typically caused by runoff pollution and sewers overflowing. The affected beaches were across the entire coast, including on both shores and in Boston, Cape Cod, Buzzards Bay, and the islands.
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