Wakefield residents should avoid Worden Pond after new algae advisory
Wakefield-area readers should avoid Worden Pond in South Kingstown: RIDOH and DEM say the harmful algae advisory remains in effect until further notice.
Wakefield-area residents planning summer time on the water should avoid Worden Pond in South Kingstown for now. The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management issued a harmful algae advisory on May 29, and it remains in effect until further notice.
The state guidance is to avoid contact with the pond water. Officials say all recreation at the pond, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, is high risk and should be avoided.
The advisory also says people should not drink untreated water or eat fish from the affected waterbody, and pet owners should keep dogs and other animals from drinking or swimming there.
That matters for residents and visitors in Wakefield, the town center of South Kingstown, where summer plans often include nearby ponds and other outdoor spots. Even a casual stop at the shoreline can mean contact with the water, so it is worth checking the advisory before going.
State officials say harmful algae blooms can move within a pond, so the warning applies across Worden Pond rather than only at one visible patch. If the water looks green or has scummy surface buildup, people and pets should stay away.
For now, the safest approach is to treat Worden Pond as off-limits unless and until the state updates the advisory.
