MEDFORD Two private swimming clubs have reopened their beaches after testing showed bacterial levels had dropped to safe levels.

Oakwood Colony Club and Lake Pine Colony Club closed their beaches last week when tests showed high levels of coliform bacteria in the water.

State law requires weekly testing of the water at swimming lakes, and any result with a score higher than 200 requires the lake be closed to swimmers.

Steve Beach, property manager at Lake Pine Colony Club, said the club reopened its three swimming beaches Friday morning once test results came in.

I dont know the numbers off the top of my head, Beach said, but they were below 200 at all three beaches.

David Volpe, trustee of Oakwood Colony Club, said the club reopened for swimming Saturday morning when test results came in at 10.

Testing was carried out Wednesday at both lakes. Both clubs use Aquatic Services of Howell to monitor their water quality.

Lake Pine officials had attributed the lakes earlier high reading to stormwater runoff from several days of heavy rains. Oakwoods problems were caused by runoff from a nearby sewer, according to Volpe.

Coliform bacteria are typically found in animal and human waste, and high levels are considered a warning that other harmful organisms are present as well.

Tests measure the number of coliform bacteria colonies per 1,000 milliliters of water. A count that shows more than 200 colonies in two consecutive tests, or 400 in a single test, means a beach closure.

Originally posted here:

Beaches reopened at Medford clubs