Crystal Lake Tests High For Bacteria - Closed Again

NEWTON, MA — Once agains signs have gone up around Crystal Lake and the city's public health office said Crystal Lake warning the water is unsafe for swimming after regular tests showed high levels of fecal coliform and e-coli bacteria.

No people or pets should have contact with the water, as current levels could cause both to get sick.

The water test results from a sample taken at Crystal Lake Wednesday, August 12, indicate high levels of bacteria.

The accepted level of E. coli for a single sample is 235 colony-forming units per 100 ml or below. The accepted level of fecal coliform is 200 cfu/100 ml or below. On Aug 12, both were above 1000 units per 100 ml.

This isn't the first time this summer the lake has tested high:

Health officials they will resample the water Thursday, and the results will be posted by Saturday on the city's public health office website.

In June, the city closed both the Gath Pool and Crystal Lake Beach because of concern about large groups they could draw amid the pandemic. This weekend amid a slight uptick in cases of the coronavirus, the governor issued new Outdoor Gathering Limits, reducing the outdoor gathering limit from 100 to 50, effective Tuesday. The indoor gathering limit will stay at 25.

The gate near the Crystal Lake bathhouse and beach is closed, the sections of the dock that are stored on the land behind the bathhouse are off limits and the city has said that trespassing will not be permitted. However, the grassy area nearby is still public, and several sunbathers can be seen around the lake, including in that area daily.

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