WESTPORT–The Westport Parks and Recreation Department reports that the swimming area at Compo Beach is closed.
The Aspetuck Health District detected elevated bacteria levels.
According to the AHD, bacteria levels exceed acceptable health and safety thresholds for public swimming areas. As a precaution, the swimming area at Compo Beach will remain closed until resample testing confirms that water quality has returned to safe levels. Resample testing is scheduled for Monday, July 14th.
An update will be issued once the swimming area reopens.
Please note that Old Mill Beach and Burying Hill Beach remain open for swimming.
For updates and more information, please visit the Aspetuck Health District website: https://aspetuckhd.org/
According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health website https://beachadvisory.ct.gov/BeachAlert/, Westport’s Compo Beach is the ONLY beach in the entire State closed this weekend due to “elevated bacteria levels.” (One other beach, Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport, is closed for the entire summer due to a tick infestation). Compo and Burying Hill were also closed on June 25 based on bacteria levels. While I understand that beaches are routinely closed for a day after heavy rainfalls, there was no such significant precipitation associated with these two recent town closures. I am beginning to wonder whether we have a particular issue in Westport with our sewage treatment system.
We hope the annual Point to Point Swim, scheduled for next Sunday July 20 on Compo Beach is NOT cancelled due to bacteria.
I think this anger at the testing method and the possible cancellation of the Point to Point Swim is unwarranted and a sign of the times. With heavy rainfalls our wastewater treatment plants are overtaxed and partially treated waste water is released into the Sound but you are not alone. Southport was closed but not Burying Hill just down the road. It has been like this since I moved to the area in 1977. The weather will improve, the water will clear and I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer.
Joan,
Your points are all valid. But what would the cost be to upgrade the wastewater treatment plants so that heavy rainstorms don’t result in crap being thrown into waterways. It is barbaric, and something we now just accept as normal. Why? What alternatives are possible? Why aren’t our so called leaders finding ways to move beyond a clearly ridiculous practice. I’m sure there are many people who have worked on this in the past and may be lookign at it now.
RTM Environment Committee members, are you folks doing anything about this? Does anyone think that this is acceptable?
District 7: Ellen Lautenberg, Chair
District 8: Wendy Batteau
District 4: Clarence Hayes
District 2: Melissa Levy
District 1: Matthew Mandell
District 9: Kristin Schneeman
District 5: Claudia Shaum
District 8: Julie Whamond
The proper sphere of business of the Environment Committee shall be to help create and maintain a better ecological environment in Westport by initiating and/or studying legislation to this end, including all matters pertaining to the Conservation Commission and all matters pertaining to the disposal and handling of solid and liquid waste and the budget appropriations therefor.