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BEACH TESTING RESULTS FOR JULY 25th, 2017 AND MINOT BEACH UPDATE

Posted on: July 27, 2017 - 10:53am
beach

BEACH TESTING RESULTS FOR JULY 25th, 2017

AND MINOT BEACH UPDATE

Egypt Beach – 31

Humarock Beach – 146

Lighthouse Beach – 471

Minot Beach – 52**

Peggotty Beach –10

Sand Hills Beach – less than 10

HUMAROCK AND LIGHTHOUSE BEACHES – NO SWIMMING

ALL OTHER BEACHES OPEN FOR SWIMMING

Under Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations for beaches, beach operators must sample bathing water at all public beaches for bacteria each week, using the Enterococcus indicator organism. Under that regulation, beach sampling is conducted weekly during the swim season, which is between the third week of June and Labor Day. The six beaches that are sampled include Humarock, Peggotty, Sand Hills, Egypt, Lighthouse and Minot. Test results cannot exceed a specified number of bacteria colonies per 100 mL sample of water. The maximum contaminant level is 104 Enterococci/100 mL of ocean water. If the results exceed 104 Enterococci/100 mL of ocean water, the beach must be closed to swimming after two consecutive unsatisfactory samples have been collected or if sampling cannot occur on the day following a single elevated level is detected.

**On Tuesday, Minot Beach was closed while the Town was investigating a strong odor reported that afternoon. Town personnel observed the appearance of organic manner on the beach causing the odor and reported the beach closure to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the beach has remained closed. It is believed that the material was compacted decaying seaweed. The weekly beach water sample from Minot was collected at the time that the odor was strongest. As indicated above, the water results were below the allowable level for swimming and, therefore, Minot Beach has re-opened as of this morning.