Pullout:
E. coli levels in Watchic Lake:
In front of dam 43col / 100mL
Page’s Brook 35col / 100mL
Between islands 18col / 100mL
Paine Brook 21col / 100mL
Low area west of Paine Brook 43col / 100mL
Around Kiwanis beach 19col / 100mL
Acceptable levels of E. coli for swimming usually range from 100 to 235 bacteria colonies per milliliter.
col=bacterial colonies
mL= milliliter
Source: McFarlane Laboratories. Courtesy of Claire Drew, secretary of the Watchic Lake Association
Watchic Lake in Standish has received a clean bill of health, according to the results of recent E. coli sample tests taken at various locations on the lake.
“It’s in everybody’s best interest when the weather gets warm or when the water is heavily used to monitor the bacteria of the water,” said Claire Drew, secretary of the Watchic Lake Association and a lifelong resident of Watchic Lake.
Tests taken by the lake’s water quality monitor, Eben Joslyn, have shown the lake is well below the acceptable level of bacteria.
Patty Guenthner, president of the Watchic Lake Association, said the lake’s purity is due to three facts:
“The lake is not overpopulated; there’s a general awareness of the residents (of the lake’s environment), and there is no public boat launch, which reduces traffic,” she said.
The association received $500 from the town of Standish for the testing, in which each vile costs around $35 to process.
“The town does recognize that Watchic Lake is a jewel,” said Standish Town Manager Gordon Billington. “The lake itself is contained, and the water needs to be well protected. The town recognizes that. This is the first time we’ve put money in the budget for testing, and I think it’s appropriate that we’ve done it.”
According to town officials, the town council is equally interested in the quality of Watchic Lake, which is the only lake completely within the limits of the town.
Council Chairman Terence Christy, a representative to the Watchic Lake Association, said the town has a vested interest in the lake’s water quality.
“I think it’s a great idea (to fund the testing). We have a positive relationship with the association,” he said.
Even though there is no public access on Watchic Lake, Christy said lake residents “are taxpayers nonetheless. They contribute to the town and this is our part of helping the environment.”
And the town’s assistance does not go unnoticed.
“We are well aware of the economic value of this lake to Standish,” said Claire Drew, “and we appreciate the support from the town. Frankly, the lake association does not have a large budget. We barely meet operating costs. We will continue to test the water, and we appreciate the town is interested in what we do.”
High levels of bacteria recorded near the Kiwanis Beach on Watchic Lake forced the beach to close last summer. But, according to lake association president Guenthner, Watchic Lake is an example of water purity when compared to Sebago Lake, where a beach this year was closed due to unsafe levels of E. coli.
“We’re a small lake,” she said, “but the residents here understand good, responsible stewardship… we try not to be policemen in terms of enforcing the rules that apply to water quality – people get resentful of that – but we try to be good stewards.”
As for the future, according to Guenthner, the association will work “to improve and maintain water quality for our grandchildren and educate to keep property values up.”
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