NEW BEDFORD — The New Bedford Health Department has announced that several sections of East Beach located along East Rodney French Boulevard and West Beach located along West Rodney French Boulevard have been closed to swimming today, Thursday, August 24, 2017, due to elevated bacteria levels. The Health Department has closed the following beach sections to swimming to protect public health:

· East Rodney French Boulevard Sections: Tower 1, Tower 4, O’Tools

· West Rodney French Boulevard Sections: ALL West Rodney French Beaches closed (Kid's Beach, J Beach, Squid Beach, North 400 and South 400 Beach)

However, water testing results also indicate that the water quality is acceptable for two section of East Rodney French Boulevard’s beaches: Davy’s Locker Beach, as well as the Fort Taber Park South Beach.

A map of the New Bedford beach sections is available here.

The water at all New Bedford beaches will be tested daily until acceptable water quality levels are obtained and swimming can resume at all sections. Further updates regarding openings and closures will be made as water quality results are received.

Additional information is available by calling the New Bedford Health Department at (508) 991-6199.

--City of New Bedford

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