Oakland Beach and Conimicut Beach Closed for Bacteria

UPDATE Friday, June 23: RIDOH recommends reopening Oakland Beach in Warwick for swimming because bacteria counts have returned to safe levels.

RIDOH will continue to monitor and review beach water quality through Labor Day. The status of a beach may change as new data become available. The most up-to-date beach information is available through a recorded message on RIDOH’s beaches telephone line (401-222-2751). A list of closed beaches can also be accessed at https://health.ri.gov/data/beaches/

WARWICK, RI — The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has alerted the public that bacteria levels have rendered Oakland Beach and Conimicut Beach closed in Warwick for swimming  due to high bacteria levels.

The health department routinely checks city and state beaches for high levels of bacteria in the water. Beach closures are announced with bacteria levels exceed more than 60 cfu/100 ml ((colony forming units per 100 milliliters) of Enterocci bacteria in saltwater and in freshwater. The beach’s status can be monitored at the DOH website.

Such beach closure announcements have become routine during summer months throughout the state.

When a beach closure is recommended, water quality analysis is conducted by RIDOH’s laboratory or a state-certified laboratory. The Department noted on its website that officials will continue to monitor the water quality and recommend reopening the beach when the water is again safe for swimming.  The status of a beach may change daily.

The most up-to-date beach information is available through a recorded message on RIDOH’s beaches telephone line (401-222-2751) and online.

RIDOH will continue to monitor and review beach water quality through Labor Day. The status of a beach may change as new data become available. The most up-to-date beach information is available through a recorded message on RIDOH’s beaches telephone line (401-222-2751). A list of closed beaches can also be accessed at the RIDOH website.