Health Department Reopens Sections of New Bedford Beaches to Swimming

The New Bedford Health Department has announced that sections of public beach along East Beach (located along East Rodney French Boulevard) and West Beach (located along West Rodney French Boulevard) have reopened to swimming, while other sections remain closed to swimming today.  Acceptable water quality tests were obtained for the areas reopened to swimming today.  The water at the closed sections of beach will be tested daily until acceptable water quality levels are obtained and swimming can resume.  Further updates regarding openings and closures will be made as water quality results are received.

The sections of public beach reopened to swimming today include, Fort Tabor and Tower 1-4 on East Rodney French Boulevard and North 400 and South 400 on East Rodney French Boulevard.  The sections of public beach that remain closed to swimming include O’Tool Beach and Davy’s Locker Beach on East Rodney French Boulevard as well as Kid’s Beach, J. Beach and Squid Beach on West Rodney French Boulevard.

A map of New Bedford Beaches is available at the following link: http://nbcity.newbedford-ma.gov/health/maps/BeachMaster.htm

On Tuesday afternoon, the New Bedford Health Department announced it would close New Bedford’s beaches to swimming for the remainder of the day and on Wednesday as a precaution in anticipation of significant rainfall.  In the wake of the nearly 2 inches of heavy rainfall on Tuesday afternoon, water sampling results confirmed that bacteria levels were elevated at the beaches on Wednesday and the proactive decision to close the beaches to swimming was prudent.

The state and federal government require the monitoring of water quality at public beaches during the bathing season.  The New Bedford Health Department monitors the quality at New Bedford’s public beaches throughout the summer.  For more information on this topic, visit the New Bedford Health Department Municipal Marine Laboratory Page:  http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/health-department/municipal-marine-lab/