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BY STEVEN ANDREWS
Despite a packed parking area and swarm of swimmers each summer at Glen Lake, it is not part of the state’s public health testing program because the town does not consider it a swimming area.
Instead, the town is left to test the lake for E. coli and other public health hazards.
"We did test the lake in May and the E. coli level was well below the acceptable
amount," said Janice O’Connell, the town’s finance director.
The town plans on testing once a month during the summer, or as needed due to environmental factors, such as hot, humid days and the amount of use by residents.
However, O’Connell notes that swimming is not the reason the beach at Glen Lake exists.
"It was established as a recreation area for boating and picnicking," she said.
Since it is not a public beach, it does not fall under the state’s testing jurisdiction, does not require lifeguards and supplies limited parking.
If the town’s testing does reveal a health risk, such as the elevated E. coli levels last year that shut down Glen Lake, O’Connell said residents will be notified as soon as possible.
"If there are any risks, even getting in and out of a boat can be dangerous," she said.
"We want people to know if there’s a problem."
Ed Neveu, the town’s health inspection officer was not available for comment on how the state program differed from the town’s.
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