Health officials have re-opened 19 Long Island beaches that had been temporarily closed because of concerns about bacteria in the water after heavy rains.

Nassau County’s health department had banned swimming at 14 beaches on Long Island Sound and five on the Atlantic coast. That was because of the rain of recent days.

Storm water runoff after heavy rains can wash all kinds of things into the water, but health authorities are especially concerned about bacteria from sewage.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.