Lindenhurst Pond Bloom Prompts Suffolk County Health Warning

Suffolk County health officials are warning residents to avoid the pond at Babylon Town Hall Park in Lindenhurst after testing confirmed a new cyanobacteria bloom.

In a June 30, 2026 notice, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services said surface-water analysis by Stony Brook Southampton confirmed cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, in the pond. Officials asked residents not to use the water and to keep children and pets away from the area.

What residents should do

Residents should avoid contact with water that appears scummy or discolored, including water with a paint-like appearance. The notice concerns the pond at Babylon Town Hall Park; it does not announce a blanket advisory for every park, waterway or recreational area in Lindenhurst or the Town of Babylon.

If contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with clean water immediately. The county advises seeking medical attention if symptoms develop after exposure, including nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; skin, eye or throat irritation; allergic reactions; or breathing difficulties.

Children and pets should be kept away from the pond, shoreline areas where contact could occur, and any visible algae or discolored water. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation guidance similarly advises people and animals to avoid floating mats, surface scums and discolored water because some cyanobacteria can produce harmful compounds through ingestion, skin contact or inhalation.

Why cyanobacteria matter

Cyanobacteria naturally occur in many water bodies, but environmental conditions such as warm temperatures, calm water and available nutrients can allow them to multiply and form visible blooms. State guidance says it can be difficult to distinguish a potentially harmful bloom from harmless algae by appearance alone, so the safest approach is to avoid the water when a bloom is suspected.

The county notice does not report illnesses, drinking-water contamination, a cleanup operation, a full park closure, a reopening or a retest. Residents should not assume that the advisory has changed unless a later official notice confirms it.

Where to report concerns

For a suspected blue-green algae bloom in a water body with a Suffolk County-permitted bathing beach, the county notice directs residents to contact the Department of Health Services Office of Ecology at 631-852-5760 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For a water body without a Suffolk County-permitted bathing beach, the notice directs residents to report the bloom to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Town of Babylon parks information identifies Babylon Town Hall Park as a town-operated facility in the Lindenhurst area. For updates, residents should rely on notices from Suffolk County, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health.

Sources

• Suffolk County health notice
• New York State DEC harmful algal bloom guidance
• Town of Babylon parks information