There aren’t a lot of options for cooling off this week: Crystal Lake and the lap pool at the Gath Pool Complex are closed, because of algae and fireworks, respectively.
First, toxic algae—cyanobacterial blooms—has been discovered at Crystal Lake. Cyanobacteria often grows in freshwater ponds, lakes and rivers during hot periods with little rain, when water is stagnant.
And Newton has been in a drought for several months.
When cyanobacterial blooms get big enough, the water becomes toxic. And pets are especially vulnerable.
“The toxins from these algae can make people and pets sick if they swallow the water, have direct skin contact with it, or inhale water droplets,” Laredo wrote in an email to the community Monday afternoon.
Don’t swim in the water, don’t drink the water, don’t put any boats in the water, and don’t let your pets near the water. If you or your kids or pets come into contact with the water, rinse off immediately.
At the Gath Pool Complex, the lap pool is closed because a group of people set off fireworks and threw beer bottles over the fence into the pool, as picked up by the security cameras just after midnight on Sunday.
“When staff arrived to prepare the facility for opening on Sunday morning, they discovered glass on the pool deck, in the lap pool gutters, at the bottom of the lap pool, and near the picnic table area,” Laredo wrote. “Our aquatics staff immediately closed the lap pool and contacted our pool contractor and the Newton Health and Human Services Department for guidance.”
The lap pool is being drained, swept, power-washed and refilled, and that whole process is expected to take about a week, Laredo continued.
The regular Gath pool in the other fenced section of the complex, with the splash pad, is still open.
The Newton Police Department is investigating the pool incident. Anyone with information is asked to call the tip line at 617-796-2121.