Puffers Pond Open for Swimming

Puffers Pond remains open for swimming. After recording E coli readings above state safe limits for swimming last week, water testing at the pond on June 9, produced readings within the state’s safe limit.

Water testing at the pond on June 9 yeilded E.coli counts of 52 MPN/100 ml at North Beach and 93.3 MPN/100 ml at South Beach. The state limit for safe swimming is 235 MPN/100 ml. Last week, testing produced readings of 307.1 MPN/100ml at the north beach and 770.1 MPN/100ml at the south beach. Last year, Puffers Pond was frequently closed to swimmers due to high E. coli readings. The town has not issued a swimming advisory for this season.

The town takes water samples for testing at Puffers Pond weekly, usually on Tuesdays, and the results are posted here. Conservation Director, David Ziomek, reported to the Conservation Committee at their meeting on June 11, that the town has expanded water testing to include frequent testing upstream of the pond and around Cushman Brook to see if the town can get a better handle on where the contamination is coming from.

The following information is reproduced from the town’s Puffers Pond web page.

What Are the Risks of Swimming in Contaminated Waters?
High counts of E. coli indicate possible contamination by feces (poop), increasing the risk of exposure to pathogens that can cause illness.  Young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are most vulnerable. Swallowing contaminated water poses the highest risk of E. coli infection. However, there is still a chance of infection from activities such as wading in the water and then touching your eyes or face. Symptoms of exposure include diarrhea, skin rashes, stomach cramps, and fever. Some strains can be severe and potentially life-threatening, requiring medical treatment. 

What Causes High E. coli Levels?
High E. coli levels can result from various factors. Large rainstorms can wash dog or bird feces into the water. Farm manure runoff and aging sanitary sewer pipes leaking sewage can also contribute to contamination.

What is the Town Doing to Improve the Situation at Puffers?
Puffer’s Pond is a vital community resource, especially during the heat of the summer. However, maintaining water quality in small lakes and ponds is a persistent challenge that many municipalities throughout the state are facing and that has been exacerbated by climate change and aging sewage infrastructure. The causes of high bacteria levels in these water bodies can be difficult to identify and address, often involving multiple sources of contamination rather than a single “point-source.” This complexity makes it hard to implement effective solutions. 

The Town of Amherst is working to identify and mitigate the sources of bacterial contamination in Puffer’s Pond. Potential sources include upstream septic systems, dog waste from trail walkers, street runoff, excrement from ducks and geese, pond sediments, and livestock waste upstream. The Conservation Department has been taking the following steps to address the problem:

• Seeking assistance from scientists and experts at UMass to identify and address sources of contamination.
• Initiating an upstream testing program to trace and pinpoint the sources of E. coli.
• Developing a comprehensive restoration plan for the beaches and trails around Puffer’s Pond.
• Submitting grant applications to address deficiencies with the dam and dike.
• Conducting research to analyze the depth of the pond and the composition of its sediments.

Although there are currently no dedicated funds in town budgets to address the water quality issues at the pond, the town’s Capital Improvement Program has several improvements on the five-year plan including dam/dike repair, restrooms, trail/beach improvements, and parking improvements. We are seeking outside grants to facilitate these investments and are also planning to seek outside funds to dredge the pond.