Staff Report
The Health Department reports that the Falls and Whiting ponds are closed until further notice, due to high levels of E. coli in the water, in an announcement sent Tuesday.
The announcement states that residents are advised not to swim in the water, however, boating is allowed. The water is expected to be tested on Wednesday, July 23, and additional information will be shared once it is available.
The town has dealt with other closures due to E. coli in the water. Falls Pond was closed in early July for the same reason, due to runoff from rain and lack of staffing at the pond, Town Health Agent Brian McCracken told the North Star Reporter for a previous story.
“We haven’t really had this happen in a while because they used to clean the benches a lot more because they had staff. Now that there isn’t, it’s more of a ‘swim at your own risk’ sort of thing,” he said previously, adding that the pond is tested on a weekly basis, and E. coli is killed over time by sunlight and other bacteria.
On July 17, the Department of Public Works reported that the Kelley Well No. 2 was closed off following a discovery of high levels of E. Ccoli in the water and residents were advised to dispose of any water collected that day before 2 p.m.
No boil water advisories were issued, and additional samples were sent for testing.
According to the MassDEP, E. coli is a fecal indicator. Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal waste. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms.
They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems.