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Madison’s Hammonasset Beach Swim Area Closed Due to Bacteria

No swimming allowed. After test results showed high bacteria counts, the swim area of Hammonasset Beach State Park is currently closed until the bacteria count returns to normal levels.

The park swim area was closed on Thursday, Aug. 24, in the afternoon. Regular water tests also showed high levels of bacteria at Silver Sands in Milford and the eastern portion of Rocky Neck in East Lyme, resulting in additional closures.

Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) spokesman Dennis Schain said weekly water tests are done at Hammonasset and all other designated state park beaches – 23 locations in total. The areas are tested from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

“The tests are aimed at detecting bacteria levels and there is a standard that has been set for public health and safety,” he said. “If the bacteria count exceeds that standard, we close the swim area until we re-test and until we get samples with test results showing us that the bacteria level has receded and it is safe for people to swim there.”

Schain said the most common cause of high bacteria levels in the water is heavy rainfall.

“You get a lot of water run-off and as water runs over the ground – over parking lots, over streets – it can pick up bacteria from animal feces, from liter, from decaying vegetation and carry that into the waters,” he said.

Schain said it is unusual to see this issue at this many locations, but said there is very little that can be done.

“There is no magic solution and you need to wait for it to clear from the flow of water,” he said. “That is why we re-test.”

Connecticut is home to 109 state parks that attract close to nine million visitors each year. As the state’s largest shoreline park, Hammonasset alone draws more than two million visitors a year. To keep visitors flowing in, Schain said the department altered its test schedule so that the next check is today, Friday, Aug. 25.

“Because it is supposed to be a nice weekend and it is one of the last summer weekends before school starts, we were able to juggle things so we could go and sample today,” he said. “We will have those results tomorrow [Saturday, Aug. 26] morning.”

For immediate status of swim areas, check www.ct.gov/deep/beachstatus