Recent Rain May Be Factor In Worcester Beach Closures

Worcester MA

22 July, 2021

8:51 AM

Description

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester has had to close two city beaches this week after high levels of bacteria were detected in the water, and a variety of factors — including record-breaking rain — may be to blame. Following the closure of Shore Park Beach on Tuesday, Worcester closed John J. Binienda Memorial Beach at Coes Pond on Wednesday. The city regularly tests its four freshwater beaches for two main types of harmful fecal bacteria: enterococcus and E. coli. The state Department of Conservation and Recreation is responsible for testing Lake Quinsigamond beaches. According to a video series produced by the Department of Public Works and Parks in 2020, fecal bacteria finds its way into water near beaches in several ways. Bacteria comes from warm-blooded mammals like dogs, waterfowl, humans and even beavers. Sometimes, a heavy rain event can wash feces into the water. Stormwater drains can also carry bacteria into the water. On Sunday, the all-time rain record for July was broken in Worcester when almost 2 inches of rain fell, bringing the month total so far to 12.67 inches. The old record was 11.24 inches recorded in 1938. The good news: harmful bacteria is typically highly localized, according to DPW&P. That means a positive test at Shore Park Beach doesn't necessarily mean the adjacent beach at Indian Lake Park is unsafe. Worcester also watches for algae blooms, which can produce toxic cyanobacteria. The city was planning to treat Indian Lake and Coes Pond on Thursday with copper sulfate, which controls the algae population. Once complete, the treatment poses little risk to humans and pets, according to city officials. Watch the first of a three-part series on bacteria at Worcester beaches here: