Suffolk: Closures at Tanner Park, Benjamin, Centerport Yacht Club beaches lifted

Suffolk County health officials said Friday that beach closures have been lifted for Tanner Park Beach, Copiague; Benjamin Beach, Bay Shore; and Centerport Yacht Club Beach, Centerport.

That’s as recent sampling shows the water quality to be at acceptable levels, according to a health department news release.

Swimming in contaminated water “can result in gastrointestinal illness, as well as infections of the eyes, ears, nose and throat,” the release said.

Centerport Yacht Club Beach had been reported closed Wednesday after sewage leaked from a vandalized pump-out station in Northport Harbor, officials said.

Suffolk health officials said “a relatively small amount of sewage” was discharged to surface waters, adding that they issued the advisory because of the potential that bacterial numbers could exceed state standards.

A.J. Carter, spokesman for the Town of Huntington, said someone vandalized the pump-out station, which the town previously had taken out of service because of a malfunction.

To stay up to date on affected beaches, residents can call the county’s water quality hotline at 631-852-5822 or check suffolkcountyny.gov/health.

With Olivia Winslow