It was smokey and hazy around the beaches this week due to the fires from Canada and Minnesota, but the overall water quality showed favorable results this week.
As the weekend may see some rain, it is important beachgoers still check out signs posted at the beaches that indicate swimming is not suggested 48 to 72 hours after precipitation.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, water is considered safe when bacterial levels are at or below 104 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters (cfu/100 ml).
An additional measure, the geometric mean, reflects average water quality over the past month, based on the five most recent test results. For marine beaches, the allowable geometric mean is 35 cfu/100 ml.
Beachgoers can view bacteria levels on the Department of Public Health’s interactive website, though the data is updated with a 24-hour delay.
Below are the July 16 results.
Fisherman’s Beach
Single-Sample Bacterial Results – 5.00 cfu/100 ml
Geometric Mean Results – 18.61 cfu/100 ml
The Swampscott Health Department continues its testing, in conjunction with the Department of Public Works. At Fisherman’s Beach the group found this week:
Pier – July 10: <10 cfu/100 ml July 13: 10 cfu/100 ml July 14: 10 cfu/100 ml July 15: 56 cfu/100 ml
King’s Beach
Single-Sample Bacterial Results – 10.00 cfu/100 ml
Geometric Mean Results – 87.55 cfu/100 ml
At the time of publication, King’s Beach is posted for bacterial exceedance.
New Ocean/Eisman’s Beach
Single-Sample Bacterial Results – 5.00 cfu/100 ml
Geometric Mean Results – 20.22 cfu/100 ml
Phillips Beach
Single-Sample Bacterial Results – 5.00 cfu/100 ml
Geometric Mean Results – 5.74 cfu/100 ml
Preston Beach
Single-Sample Bacterial Results – 5.00 cfu/100 ml
Geometric Mean Results – 9.17 cfu/100 ml
Whales Beach
Single-Sample Bacterial Results – 5.00 cfu/100 ml
Geometric Mean Results – 20.03 cfu/100 ml
Updated July 17, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. to remove a local result the Board of Health deemed not representative and not a useful result.
