New report on water safety, beach closures to be released Friday morning

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — The Environment Rhode Island Research and Policy Center is unveiling a report on harmful pathogens in Rhode Island’s waterways.

Entitled “Safe for Swimming?” the report will draw on data from beach testing to report the risks at beaches throughout the state, and will be unveiled at Oakland Beach at 11 a.m.

Oakland Beach itself tested positive for pathogen exceedances and was closed for swimming on June 24; two additional swimming areas in Warwick were closed on Thursday due to high bacteria counts in the water.

Much of the blame for these closures, the center says, is due to failing water infrastructure and storm water runoff.

The center is additionally calling on legislators at all levels of government to support “robust” water infrastructure funding.