Surf’s up: It’s safe to go swimming at Brooklyn beaches again

August 14, 2014 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Coney Island beaches safe to swim in.

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Just in time for a beautiful weekend, the city’s Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday it’s safe to go swimming again at most beaches in Brooklyn and Staten Island, and in the Rockaways in Queens.

After record rains Tuesday night contaminated beach water with sewage and storm runoff, DOH had warned residents not to swim at Coney Island and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn, or Midland Beach, South Beach, and Cedar Grove in Staten Island.

Several beaches in the Bronx and on Long Island’s north shore are still contaminated, however, and should be avoided.

The only beach in Brooklyn still under advisory is Kiddie Beach/Gerritsen Beach, with high levels of Enterococci bacteria, which flourishes in sewage. Swimming there is “not recommended,” a DOH alert said.

Contaminated water can cause vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory illness and infections, according to DOH. Children, pregnant women, the elderly and the chronically ill are at higher risk.

Water quality conditions at New York City beaches are analyzed on a regular basis and beaches are classified as either “Open for Swimming,” “Under Advisory,” or “Closed – Restricted for Swimming and Wading.”

If you’re unsure if a beach is safe after a storm, call 3-1-1 for the latest update, or text BEACH to 877-877 to get a status report.