Crime & Safety
Manchester's Crystal Lake Closes Again Due To High E. Coli Levels
High E.coli levels were first identified in samples taken Aug. 5, and the beach stayed closed for several days as positive tests continued.
MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester's Crystal Lake has once again been closed for swimming Tuesday due to excessive levels of E.coli bacteria being detected in water samples.
The elevated bacteria levels were identified in samples taken on Aug. 5, Aug. 6, Aug. 7, Aug. 8, Aug., 12, and Aug. 13 before falling into a range deemed acceptable on Aug. 14, according to the Manchester Health Department.
The lake reopened for a couple of days before closing again on Aug. 20 after high E.coli levels were detected again on Aug. 19.
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"The Health Department will be re-sampling the area on Tuesday, August 20th and results from those samples are expected on Wednesday, August 21, 2024," officials wrote Tuesday. "Once E. coli levels are found to be acceptable, the public beach will be re-opened for swimming."
Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals, but a few strains can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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Healthy adults usually recover from infection with this strain within a week, though "young children and older adults have a greater risk of developing a life-threatening form of kidney failure," the clinic added.
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