Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that the swim areas at Rocky Neck State Park, Niantic, and Mashamoquet Brook State Park, Pomfret, have been reopened.

Those swim areas had been closed last Thursday (July 13) because the weekly water quality test conducted at those locations showed a level of bacteria in the water above the standard set to protect the health of swimmers.

The waters at Rocky Neck and Mashamoquet were resampled yesterday, Monday, July 17.  Results obtained from tests at the state Department of Public Health (DPH) lab this morning showed bacteria levels had receded to a level that was safe for swimming.

Two of the 23 designated state park beaches remain closed – Gay City, Hebron, and Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown.  Those areas will be tested again on Thursday with results available this Friday.

Water Quality Testing Program

DEEP conducts weekly water quality tests at 23 designated State Park beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day over the course of two days – Wednesday and Thursday. Results from the tests are available the next day.

Samples from these swimming areas are analyzed the DPH lab. Samples are analyzed for indicator bacteria, which are not disease causing pathogens, but are one of the tools used by public health and environmental protection officials to evaluate the potential contamination of waterbodies.