$254K Federal Grant To Boost Swampscott King's Beach Water Testing

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — The long-standing water safety concerns at King's Beach in Swampscott and Lynn were the focus of state and federal officials this week as they gathered there to announce U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funding to support water quality monitoring and public notification programs for polluted beaches across the state.

EPA New England Regional Administrator David Cash said that closures of King's Beach, which once again was recently cited in Save The Harbor/Save The Bay's annual survey of worst water quality for Greater Boston beaches, "remind us there is more work to be done" in not only cleaning the water but also providing timely updates to potential beachgoers about that water quality.

The funding includes $254,000 for water quality monitoring across Massachusetts.

Swampscott recently launched a dashboard to provide daily monitoring of water at Fisherman's Beach, while King's Beach is tested by the state on a weekly basis — with 24 hours or more in delays reporting the results from the time samples are taken.

• Swampscott Goes Live With Daily Fisherman's Beach Water Updates

"The funding announced today will ensure that real-time monitoring data can inform the community when it is safe to swim," U.S. Sen. Ed Markey said. "This is a positive step as we continue to work together to ensure King's Beach will remain open for recreation — because access to beautiful and swimmable Massachusetts beaches shouldn't be determined by your ZIP code."

Save The Harbor/Save The Bay data showed the beach was suitable for swimming slightly more than half the days (55 percent) in 2023 with excessive stormwater runoff from heavy rain storms contributing to the sewer leaks at the outfall pipes on either side of the Swampscott/Lynn border.

"For too long, beachgoers risked exposure to unsafe bacteria levels when swimming at King's Beach on a hot summer day," said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. "This EPA funding will allow us to better monitor water quality and represents a first step towards transforming King's Beach into a clean, safe beach for the people of Lynn (and Swampscott)."

State Rep. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) said that communication with residents is a vital part of keeping them safe if they choose to go to King's Beach — where bathers are often found in the water at the especially contaminated outfall area near Stacey's Brook.

Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson also noted the need for better signage and timely notification of water quality, though he added that improving that water quality remains the overarching goal.

"From a public health and communication standpoint, we appreciate the testing and notification that this grant will fund," Nicholson said. "From a recreational and environmental justice standpoint, the water quality issues at King's Beach need to be resolved so that individuals and families can enjoy the refreshing waters every warm day.

"I'm grateful that the EPA, DEP, EEA, LWSC, and the town of Swampscott along with our state and federal delegation remain committed to working with us to find a permanent solution in order to ensure Lynn's residents have access to the Atlantic Ocean that they so deserve."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)