Monponsett Pond - Algae Update - July 31

From Cathy Drinan of the Halifax Board of Health:

Status quo for the Monponsett Ponds: The West Pond remains closed due to the algae count being over DPH's safety threshold and the East Pond remains open. Note: the counts are just over and the pond is not green. Here's hoping this is due to the alum treatments and hoping the algae counts will continue to drop.

Now....we just need to get Brockton to help us pay for this! It is their legislative responsibility to maintain these tributaries to their water supply.

Water samples were collected by MassDEP at the state boat ramp on West Monponsett Pond and the Rt 36 boat ramp on East Monponsett Pond on Thursday, July 23rd. MassDEP analysis (results reported today) showed cyanobacteria levels of 76,000 cells/ml at West Monponsett Pond and 600 cells/ml at East Monponsett Pond. The level in West Monponsett Pond is above the MDPH guideline level of 70,000 cells/ml, while the level in East Monponsett Pond is below the guideline level.

A water sample was collected by MDPH at 4th Ave Beach on West Monponsett Pond on Tuesday, July 28th. Laboratory analysis showed cyanobacteria levels of 82,000 cells/ml, above the MDPH guideline level of 70,000 cells/ml. Microcystin toxin was not detected.

MDPH recommends that the current advisory for West Monponsett Pond remain in place. MDPH sampling will occur at West Monponsett Pond again on August 4th.