LONG ISLAND, NY – Health officials on Long Island are warning residents to stay out of the water at more than 80 beaches across Nassau and Suffolk counties following heavy rainfall that may have impacted water quality.
The Nassau County Department of Health issued an advisory against bathing at 20 beaches beginning Sunday. Officials say stormwater runoff from recent rain could elevate bacteria levels beyond New York State safety standards.
The advisory is expected to remain in effect until 10 a.m. Monday, though it could be extended if additional rain falls or water samples continue to show high bacteria levels, per officials.
North Shore beaches under advisory in Nassau County include Centre Island Sound in Bayville, Crescent Beach in Glen Cove, Theodore Roosevelt Beach in Oyster Bay and Tappen Beach in Glenwood Landing.
South Shore beaches under advisory include Island Park Beach, Philip Healey Beach in Massapequa and Hewlett Point Beach in East Rockaway.
“Stormwater runoff can impact bathing water quality by elevating bacteria levels, which may cause exceedances of the New York State standard for bathing water quality,” the Nassau County Department of Health said in a statement.
Local perspective:
A full list of the affected beaches can be found below:
Nassau County beaches under advisory North Shore Centre Island Sound — BayvilleCreek Club — LattingtownCrescent Beach — Glen CoveLattingtown Beach — LattingtownLaurel Hollow Beach — Laurel HollowMorgan Sound — Glen CoveNorth Hempstead Beach Park — Port WashingtonPiping Rock Beach Club — Locust ValleyPryibil Beach — Glen CoveRansom Beach — BayvilleTheodore Roosevelt Beach — Oyster BaySea Cliff Village Beach — Sea CliffSea Cliff Yacht Club Beach — Sea CliffSoundside Beach — BayvilleStehli Beach — BayvilleTappen Beach — Glenwood Landing South Shore Biltmore Beach Club — MassapequaHewlett Point Beach — East RockawayIsland Park Beach — Island ParkPhilip Healey Beach — Massapequa
Meanwhile, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services issued an even broader advisory affecting 63 beaches across the county.
Officials said the advisory was prompted by concerns that bacteria levels could exceed state standards in waterways heavily influenced by stormwater runoff and limited tidal flushing.
Health officials are recommending residents avoid swimming and other water contact activities until at least 24 hours after rainfall has ended, and two successive tidal cycles have flushed the affected waters.
The advisory spans beaches in multiple Suffolk County towns, including Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, Smithtown and East Hampton.
Among the beaches included are Tanner Park in Copiague, Corey Beach in Blue Point, Havens Beach in Sag Harbor, Crab Meadow Beach in Northport, Ronkonkoma Beach and Long Beach in Nissequogue.
Officials also warned that while the advisory specifically targets designated bathing beaches, similar conditions may exist in nearby waterways and recreational areas affected by stormwater runoff.
Local perspective:
A full list of the affected beaches can be found below:
Suffolk County beaches under advisory Babylon Amityville Village Beach — AmityvilleTanner Park — CopiagueVenetian Shores Beach — West Babylon Brookhaven Sound Beach POA East — Sound BeachSound Beach POA West — Sound BeachTides Beach — Sound BeachBeech Road Beach (NSBA) — Rocky PointBroadway Beach (NSBA) — Rocky PointFriendship Drive Beach (NSBA) — Rocky PointShoreham Village Beach — ShorehamShoreham Beach — East ShorehamCorey Beach — Blue PointStony Brook Beach — Stony BrookShoreham Shore Club Beach — East ShorehamMiller Place Park Beach — Miller PlaceScotts Beach — Sound BeachWoodhull Landing POA Beach — Miller PlaceBayberry Cove Beach — Setauket-East SetauketBayview Beach — Setauket-East SetauketGrantland Beach — Setauket-East SetauketIndian Field Beach — Setauket-East SetauketLittle Bay Beach — Setauket-East SetauketSoundview Beach Association Beach — Old FieldTerraces on the Sound — Rocky Point East Hampton Havens Beach — Sag Harbor Huntington Eagle Dock Community Beach — Cold Spring HarborCold Spring Harbor Beach Club Beach — Lloyd HarborWest Neck Beach — Lloyd HarborLloyd Neck Bath Club Beach — Lloyd HarborLloyd Harbor Village Park Beach — Lloyd HarborGold Star Battalion Park Beach — HuntingtonHead of the Bay Club Beach — Huntington BayNathan Hale Beach Club Beach — Huntington BayBaycrest Association Beach — Huntington BayBay Hills Beach Association — Huntington BayCrescent Beach — Huntington BayKnollwood Beach Association Beach — HuntingtonFleets Cove Beach — HuntingtonCenterport Beach — CenterportHuntington Beach Community Association Beach — CenterportSteers Beach — NorthportAsharoken Beach — AsharokenHobart Beach (Sound) — NorthportHobart Beach (Cove) — NorthportCrab Meadow Beach — NorthportWincoma Association Beach — Huntington BayValley Grove Beach — Eatons NeckPrices Bend Beach — Eatons Neck Islip West Islip Beach — West IslipBenjamins Beach — Bay ShoreIslip Beach — IslipEast Islip Beach — East IslipWest Oaks Recreation Club Beach — West SayvilleBrightwaters Village Beach — BrightwatersBayport Beach — BayportSayville Marina Park Beach — SayvilleBayberry Beach & Tennis Club Beach — IslipRonkonkoma Beach (Town of Islip) — Ronkonkoma Smithtown Callahans Beach — NorthportShort Beach — NissequogueNissequogue Point Beach — NissequogueLong Beach — NissequogueSchubert Beach — Nissequogue
What you can do:
Residents can get updated beach advisory information through the Suffolk County Bathing Beach Hotline at 631-852-5822 or by visiting the Suffolk County Beach Monitoring Program.
An interactive statewide beach advisory map is also available through the New York State Beach Monitoring Map.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by Nassau County and Suffolk County health departments.