Newton Lake Reopens After Temporary Closure

NEWTON, MA — Crystal Lake reopened Wednesday morning after the latest water quality testing showed E. coli levels had returned to within safe limits, Mayor Marc Laredo announced.

The beach resumed its regular weekday hours of 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., with lifeguards on duty. Crystal Lake had been temporarily closed since Friday after routine weekly testing detected elevated levels of E. coli bacteria.

City officials warned residents during the closure that no people or pets should have contact with the water. The city continued testing the lake while awaiting results showing E. coli levels had returned to safe levels.

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 Aug. 5 exceeded that threshold, followed by a confirmation sample taken Aug. 6 that also returned elevated levels.

The latest reopening comes just over a month after Crystal Lake reopened following a separate water quality issue. That closure was due to elevated levels of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, being 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 can only reopen after two consecutive samples taken one week apart met state safety guidelines.

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