RI watches bacteria in water, closes some beaches

Three Rhode Island state beaches are reopening to swimmers, though state health officials say five others must remain closed until high bacteria levels abate.

The Rhode Island Department of Public Health says bacteria have dropped to safe levels in the water at Atlantic Beach Club in Middletown, Easton’s Beach in Newport and Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick.

They reopened this weekend.

At midday Sunday, though, five others remained closed: Third Beach and Peabody’s Beach, both in Middletown; and the Conimicut Point, Gorton Pond and Oakland beaches in Warwick.