The Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association will conduct water quality tests in the Damariscotta Mills area after a test last month found abnormally high levels of fecal coliform bacteria.
A Thursday, Sept. 3 post on the DLWA Facebook page revealed the findings at the popular Damariscotta Mills swimming hole at the Newcastle-Nobleboro town line.
The sample was taken at the end of August by the Great Salt Bay Sanitary District.
“At the time, some of the people in the Mills area asked if we had done any monitoring of the lake,” said LeaAnna Libby, the manager of the sanitary district’s wastewater division.
The Great Salt Bay Sanitary District took a sample from the beach across from Mill Pond that came back high in fecal coliform bacteria. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria indicates possible pollution.
“Since it’s been hot, we have had a lot of people swimming, which creates the perfect breeding ground for this type of bacteria,” Libby said. “We can’t pinpoint one thing as the source.”
DLWA Executive Director Jody Jones said a number of variables could have caused the results, such as the weather conditions and recreational uses.
“Water quality sampling is best done on a regular basis because the samples can change so easily,” Jones said. “Without a regular sampling schedule, it’s hard to put the high numbers we found into context.”
Jones said the DLWA will conduct more tests at the Mills area.
There is currently a sign at the swimming area around the Route 215 bridge in Nobleboro and Newcastle warning visitors to swim at their own risk.
“The swimming area is not closed,” Jones said. “It’s a personal decision whether or not people want to swim.”
