Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Heading to the beach to celebrate Fourth of July?
You might want to double check with the Department of Public Health. More than 20 beaches in Massachusetts are closed, many due to excess bacteria in the water.
According to DPH, bacteria can enter the water in a variety of ways, including stormwater run-off, failing or malfunctioning septic systems, combined and sanitary sewer overflows, leaking sewer pipes, illegal sewer hookups, agricultural runoff and wildlife and pet waste. Swimming in a closed beach could result in illnesses.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and local health departments test more than a thousand public and semi-public beaches for harmful bacteria and algae during peak beach season, typically around mid-June through Labor Day weekend.
Here is the full list of beach closures as of 6 a.m. on July 4:
Concord: Walden Pond - Main (DCR)
Salem: Children's Island and Willow Avenue
Beverly: Brackenbury
Danvers: Sandy Beach (Danvers)
Pittsfield: Lulu Pond Beach (DCR)
Dartmouth: Moses Smith Creek
Brewster: Upper Mill Pond and Flax Pond (DCR)
Eastham: S. Sunken Meadow
West Tisbury: Seth's Pond @ Town Beach
Shrewsbury: Sunset Beach
Templeton: Beamans Pond (DCR)
Winchendon: Lake Dennison State Park (DCR) @ Day Use Beach
Shutesbury: Lake Wyola (DCR)
Goshen: Upper Highland Lake - Day use area beach (DCR)
Ashby: Damon Pond Beach (DCR)
Brookfield: South Pond
Saugus: Peckham Pond @ Camp Nihan (DCR)
Winchester: Shannon Beach @ Upper Mystic (DCR)
Manchester: Magnolia @ East
For more information, visit the DPH website here.