WORCESTER—Worcester officials are warning that “people and pets should avoid contact with scums.” Hey, that’s good advice, no matter what.
But in this case, they’re referring to “scums” found in the water.
The Department of Inspectional Services has closed Indian Lake due to cyanobacteria levels exceeding the safe recreational threshold, potentially releasing harmful toxins.
All activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing should be avoided, and pets should be kept away from the water until further notice. People and pets should also avoid contact with scum formations on the water surface.
Cyanobacteria are naturally occurring but become harmful at high densities. On Aug. 1, testing revealed cyanobacteria densities above state recreational thresholds, with the dominant genera identified as Planktolyngbya and Aphanocapsa, both capable of producing toxins.
Consequently, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has advised keeping the lake closed until further testing confirms safe levels. The city will continue testing for cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins and will reopen the lake when it’s safe.
If you or your pet has been in contact with surface scum, rinse off with freshwater immediately. If ingested by pets, contact a veterinarian.
To prevent severe cyanobacteria blooms, the city uses polyaluminum chloride at the mouth of Ararat Brook to reduce excess nutrients in the water, though recent low water flows have reduced this method’s effectiveness. Efforts will continue to refine this process.
The city actively monitors and manages cyanobacteria to keep lakes safe for recreation and wildlife. For more information, check out the “The Blue Space Minute” video series. For questions, call the Department of Sustainability and Resilience at 508-799-8325 or visit worcesterma.gov/sustainability-resilience.
Got news? Email Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
