Portion of Harry Wright Lake Reopened for Swimming

A portion of Harry Wright Lake has been reopened for swimming on Thursday, a day after Ocean County Health Department testing found high bacteria levels at the Whiting recreation spot.

Swimming is permitted at the low side of the lake, near Nature Drive, according to Cassandra Colgate, office manager for Manchester's Department of Recreation. 

Test results available on the county's health department website show that fecal coliform levels in that area of the water have dropped. The high side of the lake will remain closed until levels there once again become acceptable. Testing will be completed every 24 hours, Colgate said. 

If there is a certain amount of bacteria per 100 milliliters of water, the health department takes daily samples until the bacteria is down to an acceptable level for swimming. Until then, they close the affected beach to swimming.