Newton's Crystal Lake Safe Again After Bacteria Count Goes Down

NEWTON, MA — After testing high for bacteria, Crystal Lake is back open for boating and is once again safe for your dog to romp through — for now.

Crystal Lake became unsafe due to high E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria levels on July 1, prompting the city to issue an alert that no one – people or pets — should have contact with the water.

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 July 1, both were above 1,600 units per 100 ml. A second test on July 3 revealed the E. coli and fecal coliform levels in Crystal Lake have dropped to within normal limits.

Newton Deputy Commissioner of Health and Human Services Linda Walsh said the City will continue its usual routine and test for bacteria weekly. The results from the water sample for Wednesday morning should be available in 24-48 hours on the city's health website.

Walsh said a local veterinarian said it is best for pets to avoid bodies of water that have high bacteria counts. If people are advised to stay out of the water, the same should apply to your pets, she said.

Cyanobacteria blooms have also been fairly common in recent years in the Charles and in Crystal Lake, prompting lake closures. There were blooms reported in 2015, 2016, 2017 and last August. Phosphorus pollution that collect on roads and parking lots then drains into the water body and helps the blue-green sheets of algae grow. In recent years, however residents have been doing a better job of helping keep those blooms at bay.

In June, the commissioner of parks and recreation, the health department and the mayor announced that both the Gath Pool and Crystal Lake Beach would not be reopening this summer because of concern about large groups they could draw amid the pandemic.

Near the bathhouse, the 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. In the Coves, there are signs reminding people to keep 6 feet from one another when they sunbathe and to wear face coverings when that distancing is not possible.

Related:

Help Keep Newton's Crystal Lake Clear Of Algae Blooms

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