BY DARRELL HALEN

Residents were recently advised at Windham’s town beach to swim at their own discretion after goose droppings led to a high E. coli level in the water.

A water quality test conducted around July 6 discovered an E. coli level of about 190 per 100 milliliters.

E. coli levels at swimming beaches should not exceed 88 per 100 ml, according to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

Signs were posted at the beach alerting people to swim at their own discretion due to the high reading. E. coli is one of the most common species of coliform bacteria, which can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and headaches.

Lifeguards did not work for most of Tuesday, July 10, because they did not feel comfortable going into the water after learning why the E. coli level was so high.

“They didn’t mind guarding,” said recreation coordinator Cheryl Haas. “They didn’t want to go into the water.”

Haas said six to eight Canadian geese were flocking to the beach. The birds typically leave about a pound of droppings each day. Lifeguards shoo the geese away, but the birds would settle at the pond around sunset, Haas said.

To deter them, yellow caution tape affixed to stakes was put up around the time of the high reading. The geese don’t like things blowing in the wind, Haas said.

Another test found the E. coli level had dropped.

“Once we were able to deter the geese, the E. coli was down,” Haas said.

A water company tests the water for the town weekly and the state checks the water every month, Haas said.