Coastal Swimming Areas Reopened In Fairfield: Health Department

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield's coastal swimming areas are open as of Wednesday, Sept. 16, after two days of closures following Sunday's heavy rainstorm. Suspected elevated levels of bacteria in the water led to the temporary closures.

"The swimming areas at the coastal beaches are open, but there are no lifeguards, and we are no longer conducting weekly beach water testing nor monitoring rainfall for preemptive closures," Fairfield Health Director Sands Cleary told Patch.

Lake Mohegan beach, its swimming area and splash pad are closed for the season, as is customary by the town's Community Services Department.

Cleary said that Sunday's rainstorm, which caused flooding and road closures throughout town, led health officials to act quickly.

"This week, since there was such a significant amount of rainfall and warmer weather, we did decide to close the swimming areas preemptively based solely on the rainfall amounts experienced, not testing results," Cleary said.

He added that the health department starts testing for bacteria levels at Fairfield's swimming areas the week before Memorial Day, and typically stops the week before Labor Day.