After heavy rain and flash flooding on Sunday, Concerned Citizens of Montauk’s weekly tests of water samples collected at sites in Montauk, Napeague, Amagansett, Springs, and East Hampton the following day revealed high levels of enterococcus bacteria at nearly every spot the organization monitors.
“The only safe water bodies that we test are the Long Island Sound on Soundview Drive beach” and a spot on the east side of Napeague Harbor, Kay Tyler, C.C.O.M.’s executive director, wrote in her report.
“All other tests revealed through-the-roof dangerous bacteria levels,” even sites on the ocean such as Ditch Plain and Surfside Place. “The overwhelming floods dumped water directly into these sampling sites.”
This week, C.C.O.M. urged people to avoid direct contact with the water through swimming, surfing, and other water sports. Enterococcus bacteria are found in human and animal intestines and are an indicator of contamination by fecal matter in particular. Contact with water that has high enterococcus levels can “significantly increase the risk of gastrointestinal illness, infections, and other health issues,” according to C.C.O.M.
The organization also noted a harmful bloom of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, in Montauk’s Fort Pond last week. Contact with or ingestion of water where these toxic blooms are detected can sicken people and pets, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin or throat irritations, and even “allergic reactions or asthma-like breathing difficulties.”
