Town Of Smithtown: Suffolk County Health Department Issues Advisory Against Bathing At 64 Beaches

Press release from the Town of Smithtown:

July 2, 2021

Due to heavy rainfall that is forecast to continue into tomorrow and the high levels of residual bacteria resulting from runoff, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services has issued an advisory against bathing at 64 beaches. The beaches covered by the advisory are located in areas that are heavily influenced by stormwater runoff from the surrounding watersheds or adjacent tributaries and, because of their location in enclosed embayments, experience limited tidal flushing.                                                                                                  The department recommends that bathing and other water contact be suspended in affected areas until the waters have been flushed by two successive tidal cycles (at least a 24-hour period) after the cessation of rainfall.     This advisory will be lifted Saturday, July 3, 2021, at 9 p.m., unless sampling conducted by the department reveals elevated levels of bacteria persisting beyond the 24-hour period.    For the latest information on affected beaches, call the Bathing Beach HOTLINE at 852-5822, contact the Department's Office of Ecology at 852-5760 during normal business hours, or visit Suffolk County Department of Health Services beach monitoring webpage.    Information on the beach monitoring program can be found here: http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/HealthServices/EnvironmentalQuality/Ecology/BeachMonitoringProgram.aspx   An interactive map of beach closures and advisories can be found here: https://ny.healthinspections.us/ny_beaches/

This press release was produced by the Town of Smithtown. The views expressed here are the author’s own.