Save the Harbor/Save the Bay released their annual Beach Water Quality Report Card on the Metropolitan Region’s public beaches just in time for the summer. The report card is based on water quality data collected during the 2017 beach season on 15 public beaches in 10 communities, including Lynn, Swampscott, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.
As you can see, Southie is kicking ass in the clean water department but why the heck is Dorchester lagging behind? Tenean Beach has the lowest-scoring beach in the region in 2017.
According to Bruce Berman, Director of Strategy & Communications at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, there was a slight decline in water quality across the board in 2017 over 2016 due to the fact 2017 was a relatively rainy swimming season for Boston Harbor. The seasonal rainfall total was 12.1 inches, which is markedly higher than the 5.3 inches for 2016.
We have a feeling that Dot beaches will struggle again this summer in the clean beach category thanks to all the rain and flooding in 2018. Morrissey Boulevard was non-existent too many times to count. But we shall see.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
I’ve never felt comfortable swimming at the local beaches. I know that it is all in my head since the water quality at most are fine, but Im not surprised Teanean made the bottom of the list. Water quality can really be affected by rain. The rain causes runoff which picks up all the grime from the road (from salt to pesticides) which goes back into the water.