MARBLEHEAD — Gas House Beach was closed off Friday due to an increase in bacteria.
In a statement from the town’s Board of Health, indicator bacteria levels were unacceptable based on the standards specified in 105 CMR 445.031, the Bathing Water Quality standards laid out by the state.
In the statement, Director of Public Health Andrew Petty said, “For marine water, the indicator organism shall be enterococci. No single enterococci sample shall exceed 104 colonies per 100 mL. and the geometric mean of the most recent five enterococci levels within the same bathing season shall not exceed 35 colonies per 100 mL.”
The levels of enterococci were at 48.98 colonies per 100 mL— an exceedance of the state limits. While enterococci are not usually harmful to humans, a larger than normal presence of them in water can indicate more harmful, disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.
The beach will be posted closed and tested daily. The No Swimming sign will be removed when the water quality returns to safe levels.Emma Fringuelli can be reached at [email protected].
