Beaches Across Massachusetts Abruptly Shut Due to High Levels of Bacteria

The beaches with bacterial levels exceeding health standards include several locations along the Atlantic Ocean.

A sign indicating beach closure after a sewage spill in Los Angeles County, Calif., on July 13, 2021. Frederic J. Brown/AFP Via Getty Images

Swimmers in Massachusetts will have fewer options to enjoy a day at the beach after more than a dozen locations across the state were closed due to excessive levels of bacteria contaminating the water.

According to a dashboard from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) tracking water quality, a total of 20 beaches are currently closed across the Bay State—18 of them because bacteria levels exceed the acceptable limits.