CommonHealth 7/18/23

[Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  July 18, 2023 Hi CommonHealth reader, It’s hot and muggy and feels like the perfect time to jump in the water. But there have been severe storms in the Northeast recently, and all that rain can spell trouble for water safety. As rain hits the ground and flows into our waterways, it can bring bacteria from trash, sewage and other debris that can make people sick. These microorganisms rarely cause [severe or deadly illness]( according to the Environmental Protection Agency, but they're not fun. Think infections and tummy upsets — and sometimes even respiratory and flu-like symptoms. (Some can also sicken pets.) It's not easy to directly measure all the pathogens that make swimmers sick. So, health officials test "indicator organisms" that provide a strong signal of contamination, such as from untreated sewage. In [Massachusetts]( that means monitoring for the bacteria Enterococci (for saltwater) and E. coli (for saltwater and freshwater). So, is swimming at local beaches safe? My colleague, Ally Jarmanning, recently dug into the data and the processes the state uses to test the water quality. We caught up with her to get some answers (and reassurance) before diving in. Gabrielle Emanuel: How does Massachusetts test water quality at its beaches? Ally Jarmanning: Throughout the summer, local and state health inspectors take samples from more than 1,000 saltwater and freshwater beaches. Some beaches are tested every day, but most are tested once a week for bacterial counts. Too much bacteria means the beach has to stay closed for swimming until the counts go down. Just at saltwater beaches last year, there were more than 1,000 times when beaches had to be closed because of high bacteria counts. When the tests come back high, health officials put up a sign advising people not to swim in the water, because they can risk health issues like eye infections or gastrointestinal distress. As of Tuesday, there are 61 beaches closed, most because of high bacteria counts. You can see all the closure updates [at this site.Â]( What can lead to high bacteria counts and closures? AJ: A big culprit is rain. Like the week after the July Fourth holiday, we saw dozens of closures, likely linked to rainy weather. When we get lots of rain, bacteria from our streets and sidewalks can run into the water — think about trash, dog poop and other debris that can dirty up our oceans and lakes. Data show that during rainy years, we see more closures. There’s also the issue of sewer overflows. That’s the issue at King’s Beach in Lynn. There’s a sewer pipe that dumps dirty water right into the ocean water, often leading to closures. City officials are looking for $25 million for a [UV light system]( that would kill the bacteria and make it safer to swim. Should people be worried about the cleanliness of Massachusetts beaches? AJ: Overall, Massachusetts beaches are very clean, especially our urban beaches in and around Boston. Beaches in South Boston, Revere and Winthrop have, on average, [nearly perfect scores]( when it comes to water quality. We boast some of the cleanest urban beaches in the country. How accurate is the testing? AJ: So the tests are very accurate, but they’re delayed. Water samples taken today don’t come back for 24 hours. Today’s test is tomorrow’s closure. And by then, the water might actually be clean again — we just don’t have the test to prove it yet. This is a real conundrum for beach managers. We just don’t have a rapid test for water quality yet. You can find Ally's [full story here](. Sounds to me like the beach is still a good plan for this hot stretch of summer, but checking the [state’s beach closure website]( ahead of time is also a good idea. Gabrielle Emanuel Health reporter [Follow]( Support the news  This Week's Must Reads [Dangerous complications are increasing for pregnant patients in Mass., report finds]( The report from the Department of Public Health adds to the growing body of evidence that a maternal health crisis has worsened, especially for Black people. [Read more.]( [Dangerous complications are increasing for pregnant patients in Mass., report finds]( The report from the Department of Public Health adds to the growing body of evidence that a maternal health crisis has worsened, especially for Black people. [Read more.]( [Boston Medical Center ends policy that allows migrant families to shelter overnight]( For over a year, the hospital let migrant families without housing sleep overnight. 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