By Rod Hansen
Staff Writer

A local swimming spot was closed recently due to high E. coli bacteria levels.

The Glen Lake Waterfront, a popular spot for swimmers looking to escape the summer heat, closed on Wednesday, July 26, after test results taken earlier showed the water contained high levels of the bacteria.

Town officials closed the waterfront immediately upon learning of the high E. coli levels, and kept the area closed when further tests confirmed the high levels, said Town Administrator Sue Desruisseaux.

Town health inspector Ed Nevue ordered the closure, Desruisseaux said.

“We usually test for E. coli during a heat wave, and this time they found that there were unacceptable levels of E. Coli,” Desruisseaux said.

Water at Glen Lake tested higher than the state standard of 88 counts of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water, said Jody Connor, director of the Department of Environmental Services (DES) Limnology Center.

Swimmers exposed to high E. coli levels generally suffer from gastrointestinal illness, Connor said.

The Department of Environmental Services did not order the Glen Lake Waterfront closed because Goffstown is not part of New Hampshire’s Beach Inspection Program, Connor said. Rather, he said Nevue ordered the closing after learning of the test results.

Approximately 180 beaches are monitored under the beach inspection program, Connor said.

The DES had five beach advisories listed on Monday, July 31. East Washington, Northwood and Amherst beaches were all closed due to high levels of bacteria, according to DES information.

Goffstown residents seeking to cool down from the heat can still use the swimming pools at Barnard Park and Roy Park, Desruisseaux said.

Further testing of the water was scheduled to take place this week, Desruisseaux said. Results of those tests were not available at press time.