Five New York city beaches are under advisory amid a heatwave set to make Independence Day weekend a real scorcher.
The advisory means the water at these beaches has high levels of bacteria. The city’s Department of Health advises against swimming and wading under this warning.
Warmer temps and direct sunlight can speed up bacterial growth in beach water and sand.
The city’s testing measures enterococci — a fecal bacteria that is generally not harmful, but could indicate more dangerous bacteria and other microbes are in the water.
It’s possible contaminated water can cause GI symptoms (like diarrhea, vomiting, cramping and pain), or infect wounds.
In the five boroughs, safe levels of enterococci are below 104 per 100 mL of water per test, or 35 on average over the month.
Here are the beaches under advisory:
- Sea Gate 42nd, Brooklyn: This private beach at the western end of Coney Island measured 233 / 100 mL — more than double the limit — on Monday.
- Whitestone Boosters Civic Association (Boosters Beach), Queens: This private beach measured 136 Tuesday, down from 873 last week, which was over 8 times the limit. This month, they measured 56 on average.
- Douglaston Manor Beach, Queens: This private beach has measured 77 on average this month, 42 over the limit. Last week, officials found 1,362 bacteria in the water — 13 times the limit — but dropped this week to just 10.
- Trinity Danish Young People’s Society, Bronx: This month’s average is just over the limit at 37 at the private beach club. Last week, the bacteria levels were more than double the acceptable levels (228), but Tuesday it dropped to just 10.
- White Cross Fishing Club, Bronx: This private beach, right next to Trinity Danish, measured 127 Tuesday, down from 194 last week.
If you choose to swim, the EPA recommends avoiding putting your head under the water or swallowing water.
Even if you’re just wading, keep open wounds out of the water, and wash hands after playing in sand.
These beaches are considered safe and open:
- Bronx: Orchard Beach, American Turner, Danish American Beach Club, Morris Yacht Club, Schuyler Hill Civic Association, West Fordham Street Association
- Brooklyn: Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen/Kiddie Beach, Kingsborough Community College, Sea Gate Beach Club
- Queens: Rockaway Beach, Breezy Point 219th, Breezy Point Reid Ave, The Strand
- Staten Island: Cedar Grove, Midland Beach, South Beach, Wolfe’s Pond Beach
Water testing generally happens once a week across the city, except at Rockaway and Breezy Point, which gets monitored twice as often.
Because the latest numbers are from several days ago, it’s possible the baking heat has made conditions even worse.
The city may close beaches if things get worse, but also if they get reports of repeated illness, or if officials spot “hazardous amounts” of floating debris, infectious waste, contaminants, or evidence of sewage or wastewater at the beach.
