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NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The City of Newburyport reopened the Plum Island beachfront accessed through the pathway at 55th Street for swimming Friday.
Plum Island Point Beach was closed for swimming on Friday, July 14 due to elevated bacteria levels. The following Monday, all Plum Island beaches remained closed after the state Department of Health did a routine water quality test and found the average bacteria levels for the last five tests exceeded the state's allowable limit.
City officials tested the water again on Wednesday and Thursday, which showed that bacteria levels in the water at 55th Street had decreased significantly since Monday, allowing the City to reopen the beach for swimming.
Newburyport officials are still waiting results for Plum Island Point Beach and will allow swimming there if those results permit, the City said in a statement.
The Department of Public Health currently lists 64 beaches with unsafe water quality.
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