Rhode Island Beach Closures: What You Need To Know

Friday marked the official beginning of summer, and with it came an announcement that Spring Lake Beach in Burrillville is once again closed to swimming from the Rhode Island Department of Health. Since the unofficial kickoff to summer on Memorial Day, the department has already briefly closed several beaches due to high bacteria counts.

Every day, department of health scientists hit the streets of Rhode Island, testing bacteria levels in the water. Joseph Wendelken, a spokesperson for the department, said the tests check the levels of enterococci, a bacteria that can make people sick if too much is found in the water. The threshold for safety is 60 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters of water—if any more are found the beach will be closed.

Once a beach is closed, the water is tested daily until bacteria reach safe levels, when the beach is reopened. Most beaches reopen within three to four days, Wendelken said, though the timing varies on a case-by-case basis.

In most cases, high bacteria levels are caused by stormwater runoff. Particularly rainy years, including this spring, will usually see more closures due to a higher amount of runoff.

Local residents can help prevent beach closures in several ways. First, anyone who gets sick after swimming at a Rhode Island beach, suffering stomach issues, diarrhea, or flu-like symptoms, is urged to report it to the department of health by calling 401-222-5960. Parents of babies and toddlers are encouraged to check their child's swim diaper regularly, changing it throughout the day to keep fecal bacteria from getting into the water.

One of the most important ways Rhode Islanders can help keep beaches open is to always clean up after pets. Pet waste is often swept up in runoff water, bringing the fecal bacteria into the water. This is especially true near more urban beaches, where larger paved areas create more runoff into the water.

Throughout the summer, Rhode Islanders can get the most up-to-date information on the state's beaches by calling the department of health's prerecorded beach hotline at 401-222-2751. More information on beach closures is also available on the department's website.