Environmental Health

Our mission is to promote and to protect the physical and environmental well-being of the citizens of the Newtown Health District through direct services. Health District staff enforces the requirements of the Connecticut Public Health Code and Newtown Health District Regulations to help ensure a clean and healthy environment.

Two Different (and sometimes related) subjects:  Eichler's Cove and Blue Green Algae, also known as Cyanobacteria

(1)  EICHLER’S COVE MARINA - Located at 11 Old Bridge Road, Newtown, in the southeastern corner of Newtown, offering a marina, boat launch, beach, picnic area, kayak racks and a spectacular view. Eichler’s Cove provides the only public access to Lake Zoar.

The Newtown Health District, utilizing York Lab here in Newtown, ensures weekly beach area water testing during swimming season.  

The indicator organisms used for monitoring swimming water quality as established by the Connecticut Department of Public Health for Freshwater are: E. coli organism as determined by the Colilert -18 Method or any State of Connecticut or EPA approved method.  A concentration of E. coli organisms less than or equal to 235 per 100 ml is generally considered satisfactory for a single sample from a swimming area.

The beach at Eichlers has experienced periodic unacceptable levels of bacteria for a public swimming area (greater than 235)

Those instances are most likely attributable to heavy rainfall, Canada geese and other water fowl that prefer an easier (non-vegetated) access to land, as well as periods of low flow (when it does not rain for many days) which results in the water at the beach tending to have little movement.

Eichler's Cove Weekly Testing for Bacteria  in MPN/100ml (MPN = most probable number)

(2) Blue Green Algae/Cyanobacteria.   

At Eichlers:  The laboratory at Western Connecticut State University has been monitoring public beaches on Connecticut lakes, including Lake Zoar, for the presence of microcystin toxin produced by cyanobacteria (aka “Blue-Green Algae”). To date, this season, the U.S. EPA and CT DPH advisory threshold of Microcystin at 8.0 parts per billion (ppb; µg/L) for recreational waters has not been exceeded.

Information about Blue Green Algae/Cyanobacteria 

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, occur naturally in lakes and ponds throughout Connecticut. These microscopic organisms often go unnoticed and cause no harm. However, excessive nutrient pollution and climate change are causing water bodies to experience more frequent nuisance cyanobacteria blooms that may produce and release toxins. When cyanobacteria blooms release toxins, people and animals using the water body for recreation can have health effects. It is important to note that not all algal blooms are harmful algae blooms (HABs), however it is not possible to determine the level of toxins in the water without a more detailed evaluation. Out of precaution it is best to avoid direct contact with water experiencing a bloom. When in doubt, stay out!

Helpful links from:

CT Dept of Energy and Environmental Protection     https://portal.ct.gov/deep/water/water-quality/blue-green-algae-blooms 

CT Dept of Public Health   https://portal.ct.gov/dph/environmental-health/environmental-health-sect...