Save the Harbor/Save the Bay released their 2023 Beach Season Water Quality Report Card at a press conference with Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo, Revere Mayor Patrick Keefe, Rep. Jessica Giannino, Rep. Jeff Turco, Councillor Ira Novoselsky Councillor Robert J. Haas, III, Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya, staff of Sen. Lydia Edwards, staff of Rep. Adrian Madaro, Executive Director Chris Mancini, and members of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission and Save the Harbor’s Better Beach Grant Program in attendance on Revere Beach, just in time for the 2024 Beach Season.
This year’s report card uses data from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to survey the water quality of each of the region’s public beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.
2023 was the rainiest summer in the Boston area since 1955, resulting in an overall water quality safety rating of 85% for the Boston Harbor area beaches, down from the previous dry year’s 93% score.
Malibu and Savin Hill experienced drops in water quality from 2022 to 2023 from 95% and 94% respectively, to 76% and 80% respectively due to historic rainfall that occurred last summer. Tenean beach experienced a drop from 89% in 2022 to 73% in 2023 due to the historic rainfall and continued challenges from stormwater and runoff.
They have summarized the results in the following table:
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.