Nassau, Suffolk announce beach closures
A file photo of the bathing section at North Hempstead Beach Park. Credit: Nina Ruggiero
Nassau County health officials announced the closing of 19 beaches Wednesday as a precautionary measure after heavy rainfall, according to a news release.
Stormwater runoff often can elevate bacteria levels and affect bathing water quality, the County's Department of Health said in the release.
The closings cover 14 North Shore beaches: Centre Island Sound, Creek Club, Lattingtown Beach, Laurel Hollow Beach, Morgan Sound, North Hempstead Beach Park, Piping Rock Beach Club, Pryibil Beach, Ransom Beach, Roosevelt Beach, Sea Cliff Village Beach, Soundside Beach, Stehli Beach and Tappen Beach.
Also, five South Shore beaches are closed: Biltmore Beach Club, Hewlett Point Beach, Island Park Beach, Merrick Estates Civic Association and Philip Healey Beach.
A health department spokeswoman said last week after similar closings that the procedure is a routine precaution based on past bacteria counts after heavy rains.
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services also issued on Wednesday an advisory against bathing at 52 beaches, including those along the northern shoreline of the Great South Bay, in Sag Harbor, within and adjacent to various North Shore embayments (Cold Spring Harbor, Huntington Harbor and Bay, Centerport Harbor, Northport Harbor and Bay, Port Jefferson Harbor and Stony Brook Harbor), and Long Island Sound beaches that are directly impacted by nearby stormwater discharges.
For recorded information on beach closings and openings in Nassau, call 516-227-9700. Health department representatives are available weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., at 516-227-9717.
Suffolk's bathing beach hotline is 631-852-5822. Residents also can all the department's Office of Ecology, 631-852-5760, weekdays, or visit suffolkcountyny.gov/health and click on the "Our Environment" link.
