From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) conducts weekly water testing at 23 state-owned and -managed swimming areas, including those located at four coastal parks, 17 inland parks, and two state forests. Water samples are analyzed at a Department of Public Health lab for “indicator bacteria,” which help determine potential contamination.
Generally on Fridays and Mondays, DEEP updates a state swimming area water quality report on its website, identifying which areas are opened or closed to swimming due to water testing results. Beaches closed due to elevated bacteria are typically retested 24 hours later.
DEEP also maintains a 24-hour information phone line at 1-866-CTPARKS, which people can call for an up-to-date status of the state’s swimming areas.
