Moulton Spotlights King's Beach Pollution Issues at House Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Seth Moulton brought national attention to the ongoing water pollution challenges plaguing King’s Beach during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing. 

King’s Beach is considered the most polluted beach in Massachusetts and is closed to swimming in Swampscott and Lynn 90% of the year. It is regularly shut down due to water contamination. When storms hit, sewage and wastewater flood the beach, endangering public safety. At the height of the summer, some local residents still risk swimming in the polluted water because it is the only beach accessible to them.

At the hearing, held by the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, Congressman Moulton used his speaking time to press environmental experts on what the government can do to better address the ongoing problems at King’s Beach. 

Moulton also brought attention to challenges surrounding combined sewage overflows along the Merrimack River, asking expert witnesses to explain how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can be employed to address the impacts of this damaging flooding. 

Last Congress, Moulton introduced the Sewage Treatment Overflow Prevention through Community Sanitation Outreach Act (STOP CSO Act). The bill would mandate local governments alert residents within four hours of a sewer overflow. While public awareness is critical, Moulton is also eager to see an increase in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding dedicated to combating CSOs in financially distressed communities. 

A video of Moulton’s full testimony can be found on Facebook here.

“King’s Beach is a truly beautiful place – fit for a king. It’s unacceptable that it is so polluted that it stays closed almost all year, especially at the height of summer, when families often still swim in dangerously polluted water,” said Congressman Moulton. “I will continue to call attention to this issue and work with the appropriate stakeholders to ensure that we find better solutions in the future so that Lynn and Swampscott can enjoy the beach once again.”