ATHOL — Silver Lake beach remains closed until further notice, Athol Health Agent Deborah Vondal said Monday.
The public swimming area is temporarily off limits because of high levels of E.coli bacteria in the water. The beach was shut early Friday morning after police responded to a call that the public porta potty and the lifeguard station had been dragged into the swimming area overnight. Vandals also dragged the safety ropes and buoys up onto the beach and left them there. The damage was detected by an early morning walker who alerted the police.
A late afternoon consultation with state officials Friday resulted in the recommendation that the health agent wait until Monday to collect samples of water from the beach area to be tested.
“We took samples this morning. The lab will give the results as fast as they can,” Vondal said Monday. “The beach is still closed until further notice.”
On Friday, the Athol Health Department posted signs at various locations around the lake to warn visitors of the potential health hazard.
The beach area will remain closed until it is safe for swimming.
Early symptoms of E. coli infection include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps (abdominal pain), bloody diarrhea, fever of about 100 F to 101 F, malaise, loss of appetite and mild dehydration.