Bacteria close three beaches

Concerns over bacteria prompted Nassau County to close two beaches and Suffolk to close a beach, the counties' health departments said Friday.

In a news release, the Nassau County Department of Health said swimming is prohibited at Laurel Hollow Beach because of elevated bacteria levels and at North Hempstead Beach Park as a "precautionary measure."

Health department spokeswoman Mary Ellen Laurain said both beaches are likely to reopen after 24 hours, sometime between late Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon.

Laurain said Laurel Hollow was tested before Thursday's rainfall as part of routine weekly monitoring and showed elevated bacteria levels.

The North Hempstead Beach Park closing is precautionary, she said.

"We know when we get a certain amount of rainfall, we're likely going to get elevated bacteria levels at some beaches," Laurain said. "That's the case with North Hempstead."

Stormwater runoff can elevate bacterial levels used to assess bathing water quality, a Nassau Health Department news release said.

Information on Nassau beach closings is available weekdays by calling 516-227-9717; call 516-227-9700 for up-to-date recorded information.

In Suffolk, the Centerport Yacht Club was closed because of enterococci bacteria, according to the Suffolk health department's website.