DEEP: Three swimming areas closed in CT due to high bacteria levels

Three Connecticut swimming areas were closed Tuesday into Wednesday for high bacteria levels due in part to heavy rainfall earlier in the week, according to state officials.

Swimming spots at Wharton Brook State Park in Wallingford, Wadsworth Falls State Park in Middletown and the Pattaconk Reservoir in Chester were closed Tuesday and will remain closed pending testing Wednesday morning, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said.

A spokesperson for DEEP said that the sources for indicator bacteria they test for varies widely, but the high indicator bacteria levels that caused the closures were likely caused by lots of rainfall, storm runoff and feces in and around a swimming area from waterfowl. Parts of Connecticut were hit with heavy rain from thunderstorms on Monday causing flash flooding in some towns, including Norfolk, where town officials issued a declaration of emergency.

CT town issues declaration of emergency as weather service warns of more flooding throughout state

The indicator bacteria that DEEP and the Department of Public Health test for “is a surrogate for more harmful disease-causing agents” not the harmful agents themselves, according to DEEP.