Newton Lake Remains Closed Due To High Bacteria Levels

NEWTON, MA — Crystal Lake will remain temporarily closed as Newton officials await the latest water quality test results after elevated levels of E. coli bacteria were detected, Mayor Marc Laredo announced.

The beach was initially closed this past Friday. City officials said no people or pets should have contact with the water while the closure remains in effect.

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A new sample was collected Monday, with results expected Tuesday. The city will continue testing the water every weekday until E. coli levels return to within safe limits.

According to the city, recreational activity in water with elevated E. coli levels can cause gastrointestinal symptoms as well as sore throats, runny noses, earaches and itchiness. Anyone experiencing health-related symptoms or concerns is advised to contact their health care provider.

The city considers E. coli levels of 235 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters or below safe for a single sample. A sample collected on Wednesday, Aug. 5 exceeded that threshold, followed by a confirmation sample taken on Aug. 6 that also returned elevated levels.

The latest closure comes just over a month after Crystal Lake reopened following a separate water quality issue.

Crystal Lake was closed on June 22 after elevated levels of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, were detected in the water. City officials warned residents at the time to avoid swimming, boating, wading, fishing or allowing pets into the lake because cyanobacteria can produce toxins harmful to people and animals.

Under Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidance, the lake could only reopen after two consecutive samples taken one week apart met state safety guidelines. The first follow-up sample, collected June 24, returned to normal levels, while a second sample collected July 1 also met the required standards, allowing the city to reopen the lake.

That closure coincided with a temporary shutdown of the lap pool at the Gath Pool Complex after security cameras recorded a group of people setting off fireworks and throwing a beer bottle over the fence into the facility. Staff later discovered broken glass on the pool deck, in the lap pool gutters and at the bottom of the pool, forcing the city to drain and clean the facility before reopening it.

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