THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2024 Page 9 BEACH SEASON | FROM Page 3 “At DCR, we’re committed to ensuring our beaches are safe, clean and swimmable spaces for our families and residents cool down at, and despite last year’s record rainfall, our Metro Boston beaches continue to be some of the cleanest in the country,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “Throughout the summer, DCR conducts regular water quality testing at all of our waterfronts, and we work diligently with our partners at the Department of Public Health to post the results to our website and Park Alerts Page as quickly as possible. We’re grateful to our partners like Save the Harbor and the legislators on the Metro Beaches Commission for their support in ensuring our beaches are welcoming place and our residents have clean water for recreation.” But what about those infrequent days when it might be unsafe to swim? “In urban infrastructure, an inch of rain can quickly fl ush out bacteria that builds up in drains and stormwater pipes from people, animals and other sources,” said Save the Harbor Deputy Director Kristen Barry. “That bacteria is the main public health concern Save the Harbor/Save the Bay released their 2023 Beach Season Water Quality Report Card at a Revere Beach press conference this week. Shown in no particular order, are, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo, Mayor Patrick Keefe, Rep. Jessica Giannino, Rep. Jeff Turco, Councillor Ira Novoselsky Councillor Robert J. Haas, III, Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya, Executive Director Chris Mancini, and members of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission and Save the Harbor’s Better Beach Grant Program. — the good news is we have a 9-foot tide cycle twice a day and within 24 hours our beaches are again as clean as ever.” Currently the beaches use a posting and fl agging system to alert the public to high bacteria levels. Unfortunately, the best technology available takes 24 hours to return results, meaning by the time the posting goes up, the information is already out of date. “Until technology can catch up, our best advice is to follow the 24-hour rule and simply wait a day after a significant rainfall before returning to water,” said Mancini. “Except in South Boston where you can swim every day of the year. In the meantime, the Report Card has been a great tool to show the great overall quality of our urban beaches. We hope it will give people the confi dence to get out and enjoy our spectacular state beaches.” Save the Harbor/Save the Bay thanks Dr. Judy Pederson, former Chair of their Beaches Science Advisory Committee and Bruce Berman, former Director of Strategy & Communications at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay for their guidance in developing the methodology used in this report. They also thank Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano, Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chairs Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn and Rep. Adrian Madaro of East Boston, and each of the legislative and community members of the Commission for their commitment to clean water and the region’s public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket. They also thank the Healey/Driscoll Administration, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, The Massachusetts Executive Offi ce of Energy and Environmental Aff airs, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Richard M. Saltonstall Charitable Foundation, The Rose Family Foundation, the Barr Foundation, and Kelly Coughlin of Stony Brook Partners. To learn more about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the great work they do to restore, protect and share Boston Harbor, the waterfront, islands and the region’s public beaches with all Bostonians and the region’s residents visit their website at www.savetheharbor.org and follow @savetheharbor on social media.
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