Staying safe while swimming in New York this summer may be more complicated than you think.
That’s because the stakes of deciding where — and when — to swim have risen, as climate change supercharges storms that send untreated sewage and other pollution spilling into New York waterways and heated lakes and the Long Island Sound, creating ideal breeding grounds for toxic harmful algae blooms and other dangerous waterborne illnesses, such as flesh-eating bacteria.
But not all lakes, rivers, ponds and other waterways are created — or tested by health officials — equally, leaving New Yorkers to navigate a web of local, state and federal websites to find water quality and environmental information for thousands of bodies of water from the Finger Lakes to Hudson Valley.
What follows are key tips on how to find out whether you’re headed to swim in a safe body of water.
How to find water test results for public lakes, beaches in NY
State-run parks and beaches provide a bevy of tools for uncovering real-time reports on beach closures and water testing results, including a user-friendly map, via the state parks’ website, at parks.ny.gov.
But swimming sites run by counties, cities or towns release their own water testing, which means calling your county health department to ask questions about a specific beach or waterway is a good starting place.
Monroe County has a hotline for Durand Eastman and Ontario beach closings at (585)753-5885, with other details available via email at Water@monroecounty.gov. Westchester County posts about beach closings, including Playland Beach, at health.westchestergov.com.
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What about private beaches?
Private beaches also must follow state water testing guidelines and bathers should ask them directly about results, state records show.
Still, some water quality data and reports are tougher to find, although several advocacy and environmental groups have websites and programs releasing that data, which includes some public beaches run by comparatively smaller municipalities.
That independent oversight effort includes the Save the Sound group, which releases quality ratings for waterways along the Long Island Sound, Westchester County and other New York City sites. The swimguide.org website also provides details about water quality nationally.
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What about swimming in untested waterways in NY?
Health officials urge New Yorkers to be extra cautious when swimming in natural waterways without quality testing and other monitoring requirements.
Waterborne illness risks are also highest following heavy rains, which can send contaminants flowing into all waterways — tested or untested alike, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted.
When to stay out of water
Swimmers should avoid water that looks cloudier than usual, is discolored, or smells bad, CDC says. Cloudy water can be a warning that there are more germs in the water than normal. Discolored or smelly water could mean there is a harmful algal bloom in the water.
If you see any pipes draining into or around the water, you should avoid swimming due to the heightened risk those pipes are carrying germs, CDC added.
Anyone with an underlying health condition should also consult with their doctor prior to swimming in natural waterways, health officials added, noting those with open wounds or cuts should skip swimming or use waterproof bandages to completely cover the injury.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Swimming safety: sewage overflow, algae blooms, how to know water is OK
