UPDATE: August 19: E.Coli Levels Down
Stow Board of Health Agent Jack Wallace issued the following update on the E. Coli levels at Lake Boon:
The four samples taken at Lake Boon on Monday 8/18/14 by Microbac Labs were reported today Tuesday 8/19/14. The results are the following:
- Pine Bluffs Beach 114 colonies E. coli
- 1st Basin Barton Rd. across from Town Beach 5 colonies E. coli
- 2nd Basin North Shore Drive 4 colonies E. coli
- 3rd Basin Hale Rd. 31 colonies E. coli.
The results are under the 235 E. coli for the Town Beach and the beach will be opened again. The other counts of E. coli in the pond are not an indication of a drinking or swimming issue and are very low. Testing of wells everywhere in the community is important to do every few years. The information on E. coli is very valuable for lots of reasons. BOH agent wants to thank everyone for their trust, cooperation, assistance, ideas, and patience. We will need to further evaluate the process for the future. The collaboration of our improvement plan will be important.
UPDATE August 16
Stow Board of Health Agent Jack Wallace issued the following update on the E. Coli levels at Lake Boon:
“The Town Beach was tested for E. Coli bacteria again on Friday 8/15/14 by Microbac Labs. The results were phoned to me @ 1:30 today 8/16 by the lab.and the count is 1075 colonies of E. coli bacteria well above the 235 colonies standard for Public Beaches. The beach will remain closed until Microbac test again on Monday 8/18/14. The homeowners on the lake should assume the data for E. Coli bacteria on the beach is the same in all areas of the lake, unless you have tested your own swimming area for E. Coli.
This increased number of E Coli bacterial colonies warrants further Public Health concerns to individuals with drinking water supplied from a shallow well. Households with shallow wells on Lake Boon should boil water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and washing of any open wounds.
The water will be retested on Monday and results will be forwarded to Stow BOH on Tuesday 8/19/14.
This message was sent by reverse 911 system to the households on Lake Boon in Stow.
Jack Wallace
Health Agent
Stow Board of Health Agent Jack Wallace issued the following statement today (Tuesday, August 12, 2014):
“The BOH received a phone call from Microbac laboratories today with the results of weekly testing for E Coli on Tuesday August 12, 2014 @ Pine Bluffs Beach. The E. Coli result was 276 E. Coli colonies which exceeds the acceptable number of 235 E. Coli colonies.
After discussing the result with Microbac Labs and DPH, we are closing the beach until another sample scheduled to be taken on Friday August 15, 2014 is completed by Microbac Labs. The sample taken on Friday will require 18 hrs. of incubation. The results will be communicated to the BOH by Microbac Labs by phone on Saturday August 16, 2014. The BOH agent will communicate the results on Saturday when they are received by email.
The most frequently asked questions by Lake Boon community is the water in front of our dwelling safe for swimming? The answer is the only area tested is Pine Bluffs Beach and those results indicate a problem. If you do not sample in your own beach area, the data at town beach should be honored by Lake Boon households.”
The Stow Board of Health can be reached by phone at 978-897-4592.
Their office hours at the Stow Town Building are:
Monday- Thursday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM -12:30 PM Closed Friday PM
closed for lunch 12:30
The Stow Independent will provide updates as needed.