HARTFORD, Conn. — Note: The video above is from May 2022
The swimming areas in three state parks are closed as a result of contamination in the water.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said Wednesday the following swimming areas are closed:
- Gay City, Hebron
- Quaddick State Park, Thompson
- Squantz Pond State Park, New Fairfield
The areas are closed for swimming and will be retested Thursday with results available Friday.
The swimming area at Mashamoquet is closed for the 2022 season due to ongoing maintenance.
Water samples collected weekly by DEEP staff are analyzed at the Department of Public Health Lab for the presence of certain indicator bacteria.
Indicator bacteria are not disease-causing pathogens but are one of the tools used by public health and environmental protection authorities to evaluate the potential for contamination of water bodies.
One type of bacteria is Cyanobacteria, which has its classic warning signs. The water coloring of a lake or pond looks discolored.
E. coli concerns stem from rain storms throughout the summer. After a rainstorm, high bacteria levels typically occur DEEP experts recommend you don’t want to go swimming for about 24 to 48 hours after it rains.
Local health departments are responsible for sampling municipal beaches and swimming areas. For information on closures of local swimming areas contact the local public health agency. Once testing is cleared, beaches will reopen.
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