Town closes four beaches over elevated bacteria levels

The Town of Wareham announced that four of its beaches have been closed for exceeding the state's bacteria limit on Monday, June 29. 

Briarwood Beach, Forbes Beach, Standish Shores Beach and Wareham Lake Shores Beach have all closed. It is not clear how long the beaches will be shuttered. 

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Wareham Lake Shores Beach exceeded the state's accepted level of E. coli in the water. Briarwood Beach, Forbes Beach and Standish Shores all tested above the state's accepted level of Enterococci.

Localities test beach water for Enterococci and E. coli as indicators that harmful bacteria may be present, like those caused by fecal contamination, according to the state's public health department. Marine beaches are tested for Enterococci, while freshwater beaches are tested for either Enterococci or E. coli.

It is not currently clear what caused the elevated rates of bacteria in Wareham's water.

Wareham Week has contacted the Wareham Health Department for comment.