Presence of E. coli forces closure of Middletown lake around Fourth of July holiday

https://www.darientimes.com/news/article/e-coli-middletown-ct-crystal-lake-closed-swimming-20759039.php 2025-07-07T18:12:04+0000 2025-07-07T17:53:23+0000 article20759039 Cassandra Day, Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN – Elevated levels of E. coli detected at Middletown’s Crystal Lake following recent heavy rainfall necessitated its temporary closure to swimmers and summer campers last week and over the Fourth of July weekend, officials said.

The lake, located in McCutcheon Park at 244 Livingston Road, was still closed on Monday.

Camp was not open on July 4, according to Public Health Manager Tanielle Davis.

A June 30 test at the 32-acre lake showed the area of water used by children in the city’s Camp Crystal was 2,000 MPN/100 mL (most probable number per 100 milliliters), Davis said.

E. coli levels of at least 235 MPN/100 mL are considered elevated.

The last test, conducted July 2, showed the beach area had normal levels, however, the camp portion registered just over 300 MPN/100 mL, Davis said.

Samples were collected Monday, and the lake’s condition will be updated on the health department’s website Tuesday, according to Acting Public Works Director Bobbye Knoll Peterson.

Meanwhile, Davis said, no-swimming signs are posted on the beach.

Possible causes of elevated readings include fecal contamination from waterfowl, Knoll Peterson said Monday.

The strain, she added, “is not harmful to humans, but rather is an indicator bacteria that can mean other harmful bacteria may be present in the water.”

Closing the lake to swimmers is “done out of an abundance of caution,” Knoll Peterson noted.

The health department will collect samples until bacteria levels return to a safe level. The lab typically gives results to the city within 24 hours, she said.

High readings have been detected at the lake in the past.

E. coli is a “coliform bacteria found in the guts of all warm-blooded animals, including mammals, birds, and humans” excreted as fecal matter, according to the Connecticut River Conservancy.

Not all E. coli causes illnesses, but some strains can be extremely harmful, it said.

The health department conducts weekly water sampling during July and August. Staff send the water samples to the state Department of Health laboratory to be tested, Knoll Peterson said.

Exposure to such pathogens can cause diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, and other symptoms, Health Director Kevin Elak has said.

However, Davis said Monday, other illnesses can present any of those symptoms, so the best way to confirm exposure is to consult a physician.

Contamination could also occur when food has been unrefrigerated out for too long, which causes bacteria to proliferate, he said.

Preventing such contamination at Crystal Lake is tough, Davis acknowledged.

“It’s really hard to regulate because it’s so open, and the water is pretty stagnant,” he said. “It doesn’t really go anywhere.”

The Fourth of July holiday attracts a lot of beachgoers to the lake, Davis said.

So far, the department hasn’t been notified about anyone getting sick after going into the water, he added. Anyone who suspects or has a confirmed case of exposure should contact the health department.

If levels are over the maximum allowed, Davis said, recreation staff are immediately notified.

The health department alerts staff about bacteria levels on a daily basis, according to Aquatics & Recreation Supervisor Nick Dionne.

In the meantime, Dionne added, children enrolled in Camp Crystal are swimming across town at Veterans Memorial Pool.

Lakes and ponds, including Wadsworth Falls in Middlefield, Chatfield Hollow in Killingworth, and Pattaconk Lake in Chester / Haddam are tested on a weekly basis by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Monitoring is also done for shoreline beaches, such as Hammonasset in Madison and Rocky Neck in Niantic.

The last DEEP water quality reports were conducted July 1. For more information, including the latest swimming conditions, visit middletownct.gov and ctparks.com.

Mon, 7 Jul 2025 17:53:23 GMT 1 Cassandra Day , Hearst Connecticut Media Presence of E. coli forces closure of Middletown lake around Fourth of July holiday 1 Cassandra Day , Hearst Connecticut Media Presence of E. coli forces closure of Middletown lake around Fourth of July holiday

Crystal Lake on Livingston Road in Middletown is shown Monday afternoon. The lake was closed to swimmers over the Fourth of July weekend. Shown here is the Camp Crystal side of the lake.