Summertime and the Greenwich Beaches are Cleaner
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
On Tuesday, Save the Sound released its latest beach report, and the results are highly encouraging. Of Connecticut's 72 beaches, 55 received an A or B rating, and not a single beach received a failing grade of F.
After decades of fighting pollution, fish die-offs, and constant closures, real progress is being made in cleaning up Long Island Sound. Contamination typically stems from untreated sewage, pet waste, and goose droppings, with bacteria levels spiking when rainstorms flush runoff through storm drains and waterways directly into the Sound.
Fortunately, 2025 saw a major improvement in grades, largely thanks to a drier season with significantly less polluted runoff. Additionally, the ongoing advocacy work of Save the Sound and heightened public awareness are actively helping to reduce pollution at its source.
A Look at Greenwich Beaches: 2025 vs. 2024
Greenwich beaches saw some of the most notable turnarounds, with several locations jumping from average or poor grades to top marks:
Beach | 2025 Grade | 2024 Grade |
Great Captain Island Beach | A+ | A- |
Greenwich (Tod's) Point Beach | A+ | C |
Island Beach | A | C |
Byram Park Beach | D+ | D- |
Want to see how your favorite spot fared? Check out Save the Sound's Interactive Report to view historical rainfall levels and ratings by beach.
Between the Lines: While there is still work to be done—especially at Byram Park—the overall trend is incredibly positive. Grab your sunscreen, pick up after your pets, and most importantly, enjoy the summer waters without too many worries!