Puffer’s Pond Unsafe for Swimming Once more

The last city water testing at Puffer’s Pond for the 2026 season resulted in a warning that swimming isn’t beneficial on the pond attributable to excessive ranges of E. coli micro organism. The warning was issued despite the fact that the geometric imply for the seashores falls inside protected ranges.

Town water testing at Puffer’s Pond on Sept. 2 exceeded state security limits for E.coli on the south seashore. Sampling on the north seashore produced a studying for E. coli of 30.9 MPN/100 ml, and the pattern on the south seashore yielded a results of 240.6 MPN/100 ml. The state allowable restrict for protected swimming is 235 MPN/100 ml. The geometric imply on the north seashore was 44.76 MPN/100 ml. The geometric imply on the south seashore was 118.82 MPN/100 ml. The state threshold for protected swimming for geometric imply is 126 MPN/100 ml.

Swimming isn’t beneficial on the pond, and indicators have been posted at each seashores.

In Massachusetts, public bathing water quality standards require tracking the geometric mean alongside single samples. The geometric imply makes use of the latest 5 pattern outcomes inside the similar calendar yr to mirror typical baseline water high quality over time somewhat than a single remoted spike.

Puffer’s Pond has been beneath a no swimming advice for six of the final eight weeks attributable to excessive E. Coli counts.

The city conducts weekly water high quality testing throughout the swimming season (Memorial Day – Labor Day). Results are sometimes posted by Wednesday afternoon on the Puffer’s Pond website.

The Amherst Public Health Department is chargeable for choices about swimming closures and is the purpose of contact for questions. You can contact the Public Health Department by emailing publichealth@amherstma.gov or calling 413-259-3077.