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Second Worcester water closure in two days

  • Posted by Worcester News 1 hour ago - Filed in News - #Worcester  #Indian Lake  #Smith Pond Beach  #Cooks Pond  - 223 views


    City of Worcester photo

    WORCESTER — Smith Pond Beach, also known as Cooks Pond, has been closed after city officials detected elevated levels of E. coli bacteria that exceed state water quality standards, marking the second Worcester body of water closed in as many days.

    The City of Worcester Department of Inspectional Services and the Worcester Division of Public Health issued a public health advisory Wednesday, ordering the closure of the semi-public beach until follow-up laboratory testing confirms bacteria levels have returned to acceptable standards.

    Officials are advising the public to stay out of the water until further notice.

    E. coli is a type of bacteria commonly found in the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals, including geese, pets and humans. The bacteria do not naturally occur in lakes and ponds and can enter waterways through animal waste, stormwater runoff following heavy rain, leaking septic systems or illegal sewer connections that discharge into storm drains.

    Unlike harmful algae blooms, E. coli contamination cannot be detected visually and requires laboratory testing to determine whether bacteria levels are safe for swimming.

    City officials said E. coli levels often decline within 1 to several days after an initial closure, but the beach will remain closed until testing confirms the water is safe.

    The closure comes one day after the city closed Indian Lake because cyanobacteria levels exceeded recreational public health thresholds. More information on that closure is available here.

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