Opinion: Contaminated waters need better signage and public notice
Jul 30, 2025
To the editor:
Since July 1, the Dartmouth Board of Health has declared the creek that lies on and adjacent to Round Hill Beach off-limits due to fecal coliform counts substantially over the acceptable limits.
However, but for one small sign on 8.5 x 11-inch business stationery posted on the town's "End of Town Beach" sign, nothing is being done to alert beach-goers to this health hazard, and large numbers of them continue to swim, wade and play in the creek daily.
Health Department officials say they've done their part, notifying the Parks Department to post a sign, but lifeguards have done nothing to enforce the order.
The creek water is tested weekly and has been well over the safe limits every week for the past month.
At the very least, the town needs to post a prominent sign, both at the beach's main entrance gate, and at the beach border, so people know that it's unsafe to swim there.
Joe Slomka
South Dartmouth