Worcester Beach Closed After E. Coli Detected

WORCESTER, MA — The beach at a pond in Worcester is closed until further notice after testing found elevated levels of E. coli bacteria.

The semi-public Smith Pond Beach, also known as Cooks Pond, will remain closed, the Worcester Department of Inspectional Services and Division of Public Health issued an advisory Wednesday. The beach is closed until additional laboratory tests show bacteria levels meet water quality standards.

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Officials advised everyone to stay out of the water during the closure.

E. coli is found in the digestive tracts of warm-blooded animals, including geese, pets and humans. The bacteria can enter lakes and ponds through animal waste, stormwater runoff, leaking septic tanks or illicit sewer connections, according to the city.

There are no visible signs that water contains E. coli, making laboratory testing necessary to determine whether bacteria levels are safe.

Elevated levels can subside within a day to several days after an initial closure, the city said.

This comes just one day after another lake in Worcester was closed after testing detected potentially harmful levels of cyanobacteria. City officials announced Tuesday that Indian Lake would be closed until further notice.

Cyanobacteria occur naturally but can become harmful at high concentrations. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health advises keeping the lake closed until additional testing shows densities have returned to safe levels.

See Also:

• Worcester Cafe Receives $250K To Expand Job Training
• Indian Lake Closed After Cyanobacteria Exceeds Health Threshold