Public health officials have re-opened Little Harbor Beach in Wareham to swimming after high bacteria levels closed the beach on Aug. 24. The Wareham Department of Public Natural Resources reported that recently tested water samples have "come back good."

The beach was closed due to high levels of enterococci, a bacteria found in animal and human waste. Enterococci bacteria may cause urinary tract and abdominal infections.

Health Agent Robert Ethier said the high levels could be impacted by the large amount of seaweed on the wrack line at Little Harbor Beach. Bugs live there and birds gather to eat them. Since the bacteria is carried by "warm-blooded animals," these birds may be the culprit. Eventually the tide usually corrects the problem, Ethier said.

Wareham beaches are tested every Tuesday for bacteria during the summer, beginning on May 30 and ending Aug. 29.

There have been other incidents with high amounts of bacteria in the water this summer, Ethier said, but usually the water is back to normal within 24 hours. It is rare that the water has to be tested twice before being cleared for swimming.

For more information on testing, call the Wareham Board of Health at 508-291-3100 ext. 3197.