Beach · Washington County · RI
Is Elm Street Pier safe to swim?
Recent heavy rain may have spiked bacteria since the last clear sample.
Updated July 19, 2026 · Rhode Island beach program (EPA BEACON)
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What's in the water at Elm Street Pier right now
As of July 19, 2026, Elm Street Pier in Washington County, Rhode Island carries a swim caution. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. No fecal-bacteria advisory is posted (state beach program). Rainfall over the past week totaled 1.4 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.
Blue-green algae at Elm Street Pier
Elm Street Pier is a lake in Washington County, Rhode Island. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water.
Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are most common from midsummer into early fall, when the water is warm, calm, and rich in nutrients from runoff. They can produce toxins that make people sick and can be rapidly fatal to dogs, so skip water that looks green, scummy, or like spilled paint, and keep children and pets out of it.
Frequently asked: swimming in Elm Street Pier
- Is it safe to swim in Elm Street Pier right now?
- Elm Street Pier carries a swim caution today. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.
- Does Elm Street Pier have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at Elm Street Pier. Watch for green, blue-green, or paint-like scum and avoid the water if you see it.
- Can dogs swim in Elm Street Pier?
- No bloom is detected at Elm Street Pier today, but dogs are much more vulnerable to blue-green algae than people, and blooms can form within hours. Always keep dogs away from water that looks green, scummy, or discolored, and rinse them off after swimming.
- How many Rhode Island lakes and beaches have swim advisories today?
- Today, 1 Rhode Island water is under a swim advisory and 43 more warrant caution, out of 94 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
- How is Elm Street Pier's water quality measured?
- SwimZone builds this read from EPA CyAN satellite imagery for blue-green algae, official beach and fecal-bacteria advisories where a program monitors Elm Street Pier, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 19, 2026.