STRATFORD, CT – August 22, 2025 – The Town of Stratford announces it will post signs warning residents about a recent harmful algal bloom in Brewster and Longbrook Ponds. The Town advises residents and their pets to avoid coming in contact with water in both ponds. Contact includes touching the water, breathing in tiny droplets of water and swallowing water.
Stratford’s Health Director Andrea Boissevain cautions that “while swimming is not allowed in either Brewster or Longbrook Ponds, residents should avoid any recreational activities where pond water might come into contact with your skin or your pet’s fur”. She added that “if you or your pet come in contact with water, rinse off any exposed skin or your pet’s fur with clean water”. The fountain in Brewster Pond has been turned off to prevent airborne spread of water droplets.
According to Kelly Kerrigan, Stratford’s Environmental Conservation Supervisor “in ordinary circumstances, blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, cause no apparent harm. However warmer water temperatures and high nutrient concentrations can encourage rapid growth, hence the term “bloom”.” Kerrigan noted that the Town retains a contractor who treats Longbrook and Brewster Ponds to contain any excessive growth of the blue-green algal, but the hot, dry weather and abundance of nutrients running off into the waterways have promoted the growth. The algal bloom looks like spilled paint and will appear with a surface scum, almost like a film layer.
Should you come in contact with water from either pond, common symptoms to look out for may include: skin rash, headache, coughing, watery eyes, nose irritation and sore throat. More serious symptoms are caused by swallowing the water or consuming fish and can include liver and kidney damage, seizure, irregular heartbeat and gastrointestinal distress.
For more information, please call the Stratford Health Department at 203-385-4090.
If you’d like more information on how you can prevent nutrient load to area water courses, call Public Works at 203-385-4006. Information will also be available on the Health Department’s website at www.stratfordct.gov/health including links to CT DEEP and CT DPH’s resources on blue-green algae.