Puffer’s Pond Unsafe for Swimming Again

The final town water testing at Puffer’s Pond for the 2026 season resulted in a warning that swimming is not recommended at the pond due to high levels of E. coli bacteria. The warning was issued even though the geometric mean for the beaches falls within safe levels.

Town water testing at Puffer’s Pond on Sept. 2 exceeded state safety limits for E.coli at the south beach. Sampling at the north beach produced a reading for E. coli of 30.9 MPN/100 ml, and the sample at the south beach yielded a result of 240.6 MPN/100 ml. The state allowable limit for safe swimming is 235 MPN/100 ml. The geometric mean at the north beach was 44.76 MPN/100 ml. The geometric mean at the south beach was 118.82 MPN/100 ml. The state threshold for safe swimming for geometric mean is 126 MPN/100 ml.

Swimming is not recommended at the pond, and signs have been posted at both beaches.

In Massachusetts, public bathing water quality standards require tracking the geometric mean alongside single samples. The geometric mean uses the most recent five sample results within the same calendar year to reflect typical baseline water quality over time rather than a single isolated spike.

Puffer’s Pond has been under a no swimming recommendation for six of the last eight weeks due to high E. Coli counts.

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

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