Tanner Park Beach Reopened after Two Weeks Closed

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services has reopened Tanner Park Beach two weeks after it was shut down due to bacterial concerns from rainwater runoff on the shoreline.

The Babylon Town beach was following a heavy rainfall on Long Island raised concerns of high bacterial levels in the waters just offshore.

While some SCDHS tests following the usual waiting period of 48 hours showed improvement, another large downpour from a thunderstorm that spawned a further out East kept the as .

The bacteria found in the offshore waters, Enterococci, is normally found within the intestines of the human body, and help to regulate the digestion process.

However, the bacteria could be harmful when it makes contact with other parts of the body, including the heart, urinary tract and open wounds. Symptoms from contact with the bacteria could range from urinary pain to flu-like symptoms.

This extended closure of Tanner Park Beach was the first for this Summer season. Last year Tanner faced an extended closure for in the waters of the Great South Bay.