North Adams Closes Windsor Lake to Swimming| 11:43AM / Friday, August 07, 2015 | |
 Windsor Lake is closed to swimming this weekend after testing positive for E. coli. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Windsor Lake was closed to the public on Friday morning after its water test positive for E. coli.
The weekly test by the Health Department showed E. coli levels that were unacceptable. Mayor Richard Alcombright was notified of the test results Friday morning and the lake was immediately shut down.
Lake staff, lifeguards and park police, will spend the weekend preventing visitors from swimming and explaining that the lake will be closed temporarily until further testing can be made. The playground, fields and picnic areas remain open. There will be no charge for parking if visitors wish to use those amenities.
According to the Health Department, the lake will remain closed until further readings can determine that the levels of E. coli have returned to an acceptable level. The Health Department and Administrative Officer Michael Canales are actively monitoring the situation. Followup tests will begin on Monday, so the beach will remain closed until the results are in.
According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, "Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines of people and animals. Most E. coli are harmless and actually are an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract. However, some E. coli are pathogenic, meaning they can cause illness, either diarrhea or illness outside of the intestinal tract. The types of E. coli that can cause diarrhea can be transmitted through contaminated water or food, or through contact with animals or persons."
E. coli affects humans when it is swallowed. When contaminated feces, from animals such as geese, is in water and a swimmer then swallows that water, it can infect the person with the bacteria, causing them to get sick.
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