ATHOL — People arriving at Silver Lake seeking relief from the summer heat this weekend will have to head to another swimming hole. For the time being, the Board of Health has closed the lake to swimming as a precaution after a porta potty was discovered floating in the water. Signs warning of elevated levels of E.coli were posted by the health board at numerous locations around the lake early Thursday morning. The lifeguard reported to work as usual, but was there only to explain to would-be beachgoers why the beach was temporarily closed.
“It’s a shame,” said Health Agent Deborah Vondal, “the weekly beach water testing levels have been fine. The report yesterday indicated the levels of E.coli bacteria were way below the allowable limit [in accordance to Massachusetts Freshwater Beaches regulations].”
Responding to a 6:15 a.m. call from a resident reporting vandalism at Silver Lake beach, police officers found that the porta potty, installed for the convenience of visitors, and the large wood lifeguard station were found dragged into the water in the swimming area. The ropes and plastic safety buoys used to define the swimming area had been dragged out onto the sand and left there in a heap, but were intact. Vondal contacted Ben King of the the beach/recreation department and the DPW, who were called away from their paving and construction duties to remove the lifeguard stand and the porta potty from the water.
“We immediately closed down the beach as a precaution,” said Vondal, who had phoned the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Beach Program and was advised to do so.
Vondal said fresh samples of the beach water will be collected today and brought to the lab at Nashoba Analytical LLC in Ayer to be tested. “We probably won’t get the results until Saturday,” she said, “the beach was closed to ensure everyone’s safety.” The weekly water testing continues through September.
Neither the lifeguard station nor the porta potty were damaged. Vondal said, “The good news is, all the contents of the porta potty were cleaned out Wednesday morning.”
Vondal and Assistant Health Agent Jane O’Brien viewed the vandalism and made a complete inspection of the area around the lake. “”We checked every inch around the lake,” said O’Brien, “a lot of people walk there.” No other vandalism was observed. Lake Ellis was also checked and nothing was found out of order there.
Silver Lake, which is a spring-fed “kettle pond,” is used year-round by residents for a variety of family-friendly activities.
The lake and the land around it, the former skate park, pavilion, and ballpark areas are the focus of a study being conducted by the town in preparation of a master plan to address security, use and overall enhancement there.
In the past, picnic tables around the lake and under the pavilion maintained by the Athol Lions Club have been broken up and tossed into the water, burned, carved and marked up with vulgar graffiti by vandals.
The police department has increased regular patrols at the lake, which is closed from dusk to dawn. Anyone caught vandalizing the property can be fined $50.
In June, the Board of Health and the Animal Control officer responded to the lake for a report of animal parts in the water. Vondal and her assistant had to wade out into the water off a sandy area across the lake from the public beach to retrieve three pieces of what was immediately determined to be remnants from a pig roast.