Savin Hill Beach made a remarkable comeback in 2025 on the annual Water Quality Report Card, rebounding from a low of 68 percent in 2024 to a perfect 100 percent water quality rating in 2025.
The results came in the Save the Harbor/Save the Bay Water Quality Report Card released on Tuesday this week that showed remarkable scores for Savin Hill Beach and other Dorchester beaches as well.
“We’re proud that Massachusetts continues to have some of the cleanest urban beaches in the country,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. “It makes a real difference in how people experience our beaches and waterfronts. Clean water is essential, and access to it for recreation is a matter of equity. We remain committed to ensuring these coastal spaces stay resilient, accessible, and welcoming for generations to come.”
For the first time in its testing history, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay has reported that every metropolitan beach from Nahant to Nantasket scored above 80 percent in the annual Water Quality Report Card.
South Boston’s beaches continue to lead the way. City Point maintained a perfect 100 percent water quality rating for another consecutive year. M Street Beach and Carson Beach posted a 94 percent and 95 percent rating respectively. In Dorchester, Malibu Beach improved from 83 percent to 91 percent, and Tenean Beach – long the worst beach in the network – improved from 71 percent to 84 percent.
The Water Quality Report Card uses data collected by the DCR to assess water quality at public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket. Water samples are tested for the number of colony forming units of enterococci bacteria; this is the standard unit used to determine safe swimming conditions, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
