2025 Green River Water Testing Results
Weekly Water Testing for Green River for E. Coli
There was NO swimming advisory issued for the Green River in 2025
Testing Season is now closed.
2025 Results Below
The Alford Board of Health/Selectboard test the Green River for Escherichia Coli (abbreviated as E. Coli) weekly from May - August to help residents make informed decisions on whether it is they should swim in the Green River as it meanders through the Town. This testing is typically done on Tuesdays by Housatonic Basin Water Testing at the Green River off of Route 71 near Crooked Hill Rd. Alford Brook is not tested due the lack of public access from the roadside. This testing is specific to the area where the sample is collected and should only be used as an indicator for the potential bacterial load of the river.
Please feel free to visit the Massachusetts Interactive Beach Water portal for more information on beach closures around the state at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/interactive-beach-water-quality-dashboard. Note that this testing does not feed into the portal because it is environmental testing and not for a specific swimming beach.
E. Coli are bacteria found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals. E. coli are a large and diverse group of bacteria. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick. Some kinds of E. coli can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, and other illnesses. E. coli criteria are expressed as the number of colony forming units (cfu) per 100 mL. The maximum containment limit (MCL) believed to be safe for swimming/wading is 235 colonies. During the 2023, the level of E. Coli never exceeded this MCL. Common sources of E. Coli in rivers can include untreated human sewage, failing septic tanks, livestock, agriculture, pet feces, wildlife feces, and illegal connections from home sewer systems to surface water. Increased levels of E. Coli are often detected in rivers after intense rainfall events.
| Date Collected | Does it meet water quality standards for public use? | E-Coli Maximum Containment Limit MPN/100L | E-Coli Sample Result MPN/100L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/13/2025 | YES | 235 | 25.9 |
| 5/20/2025 | YES | 235 | 25.9 |
| 5/28/2025 | YES | 235 | 15.6 |
| 6/2/2025 | YES | 235 | 95.9 |
| 6/10/2025 | YES | 235 | 81.3 |
| 6/16/2025 | YES | 235 | 40.2 |
| 6/24/2025 | YES | 235 | 64.4 |
| 6/30/2025 | YES | 235 | 41.1 |
| 7/8/2025 | YES | 235 | 72.7 |
| 7/15/25 | YES | 235 | 78.9 |
7/22/2025
7/28/2025
8/4/25
8/11/25
8/18/25
8/27/25 | YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES | 235
235
235
235
235
235 | 125.9
99
63.7
36.4
34.5
23.4 |