Atlantic Beach Cleared for Swimming

By late afternoon Friday, the Rhode Island Department of Health had cleared Atlantic Beach as safe for humans to swim again.

The Department of Health (DOH) had recommended the swimming waters located behind the Atlantic Beach Club Pavilion closed in recent days based on multiple samples taken since Monday following heavy rains that showed elevated bacteria counts. Given the history of the site, the bacteria spike can most likely be attributed to bacteria flushed from island storm drains that empty out near those beaches.

Atlantic Beach is located where one storm drain empties into the ocean waters.

Annemarie Beardsworth, the state health department spokesperson, noted that Atlantic Beach frequently closed following heavy rain. "Whenever we have more than an inch of rain there, that beach is closed based on what we know from history. If you think of everything that goes into storm drains and there's only one outlet, there's only one place to go and that's near the beach," said Beardsworth.

Health department officials encourage the public to call the beach hotline at 401-222-2751 before visiting any beach in the days following rainfall.

Due to a hot, dry summer, the recent closure was the third this year for Atlantic Beach, according to DOH statistics collected for each beach.

Samples taken at the beach Aug. 23 showed the elevated presence of enterococci, which are anaerobic organisms that do not require oxygen for metabolism, but can survive in oxygen-rich environments such as  storm water.

The bacteria is commonly linked to fecal coliform often found in city sewage. Health risks associated with the bacteria often include gastrointestinal illness, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as infections to any open cuts or wounds. According to online medical journals, other links have been drawn to various infections such as urinary tract infections, bacteremia, bacterial endocarditis, diverticulitis, and meningitis. 

The enterococci bacteria for salt water can range from less than 10 to more than 24,198 parts per million, according to Beardsworth.

The state health department's website on Thursday updated several times to show that Fort Adams State Beach and Easton's Beach in Newport, as well as Third Beach and Peabody Beach in Middletown had re-opened.

Samples taken Monday for the five closed Newport County beaches were: Atlantic Beach (4,352); Easton's Beach (ranged by location from 272 to 601); Fort Adams Beach (529); Peabody (120), and Third Beach (ranged by location from 669 to 691).

"A beach is considered safe for swimming when there is a result that is less than 104," said Beardsworth.

Whenever it rains hard, the DOH discourages swimming, surfing and other full body contact activities there for at least 24-hours afterwards and to check with the state DOH website or call the hotline for the latest updates.

While rain is outside everyone's control, Beardsworth said residents can help prevent storm drain water from contaminating Atlantic Beach by not disposing of pet waste in local storm drains, a big contributor of enterococci.

For more information, please visit the Department of Health web site or call 401-222-2751.