Public Health Advisory: Stay Out Of Crystal Lake

NEWTON, MA — Stay out of Crystal Lake. That's the message from the Newton Health officials after the body of water tested high for fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria, which can cause illness to pet and people alike. No people or pets should have contact with the water, according to the city.

Water tests taken from Crystal Lake Wednesday, indicated high levels of E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria, 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 Aug 5, both were above 600 units per 100 ml. A second test is set to come back Saturday to determine if the levels of bacteria found in Crystal Lake have dropped to within normal limits.

The last time tests came back so high, it was also on the heels of a heavy rain. Until the tests come back, the city said it would be posting signs at the lake warning potential users that it is unsafe.

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.

The gate near the 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.

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.

Separately, the Charles River Watershed Association announced that on Wednesday they spotted a cyanobacteria bloom, also known as toxic blue-green algae, in the Charles River in Newton, Waltham and Weston stretch. Read more: Stay Out Of The Charles River: Toxic Blue-Green Algae Bloom

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.

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