Community Life
Beach Contamination


Beach Contamination

What does this measure?

The percentage of water samples from public and semi-public (i.e. campgrounds, hotels, country clubs) beaches tested by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health that were found to have greater levels of bacteria than considered safe for swimming.

Why is this important?

Essex County has many of the over 1,000 marine and freshwater public and semi-public beaches in the state. Clean beach water helps to fuel tourism and provide recreation activities for residents, contributing to the overall well-being of the community.

How is our county doing?

In 2024, 12% of the water samples tested from local beaches exceeded the level considered a safe amount of bacteria for swimming. This was higher than the state rate of 6% in 2024 and an increase from the County's rate of 8.9% in 2010. Within the county, Danvers, at 35%, had the highest rate in 2024 - followed by 34% in Lynn and 16% in North Andover.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Middlesex, MA, at 7%, had a lower rate of beach contamination than Essex County in 2024.

Notes about the data

No data available for Lake County, IL or Westchester County, NY.

Beach Contamination
201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Essex County, MA8.9%9.0%5.5%7.7%5.6%6.8%4.3%4.3%7.6%8.8%10.7%13.5%9.4%14.7%12.1%
Amesbury1.6%1.4%0.0%4.2%0.0%6.3%1.7%4.0%5.6%12.0%9.4%13.1%6.3%17.7%7.4%
Beverly12.6%10.7%6.6%9.2%9.0%7.9%5.0%7.0%3.4%12.9%12.5%11.0%2.8%15.8%7.3%
Gloucester5.0%2.6%1.4%1.1%0.0%0.0%2.1%3.7%3.9%4.3%1.5%8.6%4.9%8.8%8.6%
Haverhill0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%8.3%18.2%7.7%0.0%0.0%0.0%4.3%0.0%
Lynn25.3%36.9%13.7%17.5%12.3%24.4%17.0%7.8%24.6%21.0%29.8%32.4%24.5%45.0%33.5%
Methuen0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%8.3%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%8.3%20.0%0.0%
Newburyport0.0%7.1%0.0%0.0%8.8%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%3.9%4.1%9.3%0.0%
Salem6.1%4.5%2.0%5.8%3.5%4.5%0.0%7.2%4.0%10.8%11.6%4.8%4.9%16.0%11.9%
Andover0.0%5.7%0.0%7.7%0.0%1.6%1.7%1.7%0.0%0.0%2.4%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Boxford7.7%0.0%2.3%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%2.9%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Danvers17.6%26.7%14.3%13.3%12.5%10.5%6.3%16.7%25.0%11.1%28.6%43.5%0.0%41.7%35.3%
Essex6.3%8.8%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%4.8%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Georgetown12.5%5.0%10.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%5.3%0.0%4.8%0.0%0.0%0.0%5.0%6.3%0.0%
Ipswich4.2%2.9%0.0%3.4%3.4%0.0%0.0%1.7%1.7%5.3%0.0%4.5%1.1%3.1%4.9%
Manchester4.8%11.5%7.5%9.2%3.2%1.5%1.6%1.6%3.3%6.8%5.9%14.8%12.1%3.9%7.5%
Marblehead13.1%6.3%7.1%12.0%5.8%4.0%2.8%1.4%10.3%4.9%0.0%8.8%15.5%8.1%5.3%
Middleton0.0%6.3%0.0%0.0%17.6%11.8%0.0%0.0%12.5%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Nahant4.5%6.8%6.0%7.5%2.3%2.8%2.9%1.5%2.8%3.8%3.0%14.9%12.6%11.7%16.9%
Newbury0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%50.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
North Andover11.5%3.8%0.0%22.2%14.3%3.7%0.0%2.4%9.1%6.3%31.3%28.8%22.2%15.6%25.9%
Rockport0.0%0.0%0.0%8.3%0.0%0.0%0.0%2.5%2.5%2.5%6.5%15.1%2.5%2.9%2.9%
Salisbury0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%8.6%3.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%6.3%0.0%3.1%3.2%
Saugus12.1%27.7%21.6%9.4%18.9%8.6%3.3%18.9%3.3%25.0%28.3%42.6%3.3%29.4%18.9%
Swampscott12.0%10.0%7.8%5.4%1.4%7.7%2.7%5.3%11.3%7.7%2.7%8.6%7.9%10.1%7.4%
Topsfield0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Wenham21.4%7.1%0.0%0.0%4.2%0.0%0.0%0.0%3.7%0.0%2.8%0.0%0.0%0.0%3.2%
Middlesex County, MA4.9%6.9%3.0%5.3%3.9%5.5%3.4%4.8%6.5%6.1%8.9%10.0%4.8%8.7%6.9%
Massachusetts5.1%5.8%3.5%4.9%3.5%4.5%3.2%3.9%5.0%4.7%5.3%7.3%5.0%6.8%6.2%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Notes: Rate represents the percent of samples exceeding bacteria threshold.




Number of Samples Exceeding Bacteria Threshold
201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Essex County, MA12813685122891137071129150183256171271216
Amesbury1103041236583114
Beverly19168121312710520201843010
Gloucester421100244521051111
Haverhill000000012100010
Lynn3938314128664620685576797511691
Methuen000010000000130
Newburyport040060000003280
Salem108385701161922982719
Andover030501110010000
Boxford101000000010000
Danvers3422221352410056
Essex230000000010000
Georgetown312000101000110
Ipswich320220011303135
Manchester615101242224972217510
Marblehead13759422184081564
Middleton010032002000000
Nahant58811344245424181624
Newbury000020000000000
North Andover3106410132211712715
Rockport0003000111313222
Salisbury000031000002011
Saugus41383731721213231107
Swampscott986416249627686
Topsfield00000000000000
Wenham310010001010001
Middlesex County, MA54783363436742607874911136011183
Massachusetts7899155437555257205066127767337851,1718071,113990

Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health
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INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Maintaining
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Increasing
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Maintaining
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Maintaining
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Not Applicable
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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