By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

AUBURN – Hot, dry weather and human-fed ducks helped keep Auburn’s Outlet Beach closed last week.

The beach reopened on Saturday after being kept gated for the week. The pond tested high for E. coli bacteria contamination on Aug. 8.

The water was tested again on Friday and deemed to be safe for swimming, said Parks and Recreation Director Pete Bushway. Bushway blamed the contamination on dry weather that kept fresh water from flowing through the pond and flocks of fowl.

“That’s the main reason we discourage people feeding the ducks,” he said. “You get one or two, and it’s not bad. When you get a bunch, they stay around and that’s not healthy for the water.”

The Auburn Water District opened the dam between Lake Auburn and the beach last week to let more water flow through. That helped clean out the old contaminated water.

“All we can do is test and let the water flow,” Bushway said.

Swimming beaches around Maine have been closed regularly this summer because E. coli contamination. It’s rare occurrence for Auburn, according to Parks Superintendent Doug Beck.

The beach is built along a brook connecting Lake Auburn to the Androscoggin River. Swimming is not allowed in Lake Auburn.

“This is part of the reason we created the Outlet Beach,” said Auburn Water District Engineer John Storer. The water from the pond does not flow back into Lake Auburn, the Twin Cities’ drinking water supply.

“It encourages people to stay away from Lake Auburn,” he said.

The beach is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Labor Day. This will be the last weekend Auburn will have lifeguards on duty.