50 Massachusetts beaches test positive for high levels of human waste
BOSTON — After the state announced a dangerous amount of human waste was found in dozens of local beaches, swimmers have been warned to stay out of the water or risk illness.
"You need places like this," said one beachgoer.
Communities come to the coastline for relief but just weeks into the start of summer state agencies deemed 50 Massachusetts beaches too dirty for swimmers.
"It's disgusting," said one frustrated beach visitor.
The state's Department of Public Health requires beaches to be monitored for bacterial indicators of human fecal waste. When unsafe levels are found beach operators will ask visitors to avoid the water.
Though some swimmers say the warnings aren't enough.
"There's no flags up that indicate there are hazards," said Greg, a beachgoer in East Boston. "I would let my family know not to swim in that water."
Clean Water Action state co-director Maureo Fernandez Y Mora said there are long and short term solutions to the problem that officials warn could lead to illness.
"When it rains the sewage overflows back up and then we get sewage running into water sources," said Y Mora. "We need to tackle climate change to reduce weather patterns stormwater runoff rain barrels things that reduce amount of rainfall that leads to flooding."
But the fixes will cost.
"For the taxes that you spend they should be using more for that for the people to have fun and enjoy the water," said Dana.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation spent more than $112 million dollars in 2022. $1.2 million was set aside specifically for beach preservation but the state has likely spent more than that on water and maintenance upkeep.