ROCKLAND — Test results confirmed today that E. coli levels are still elevated in Snow Marine Park, so the park will remain closed for now, according to Interim City Manager Tom Luttrell.

The public boat launch remains open.

On Thursday, July 10, Snow Marine Park was closed until further notice after high levels of E. coli were found in surface water samples. City workers spread lime on the park and took more samples for outside testing. These samples have now come back and show that E. coli levels are “above desirable levels.”

City officials suspect dog waste may be the cause of the high levels, but Luttrell said this cannot be confirmed until the results come in later this week from a test to determine what species is the source of the E. coli bacteria in the park.

Luttrell said that they will have to investigate further to identify the source of the continued contamination, which could also be a leaking pipe.

When the species source test comes back, Luttrell and the Public Works and Wastewater Treatment Facility Directors will be able to determine the best way to combat the E. coli contamination.

While spreading lime in the park city workers discovered three sinkholes in the embankment. They investigated further and found that the ground was solid and showed no signs of deterioration, so the sinkholes were filled in and replanted with grass.

Luttrell wished to inform the public that, although Snow Marine Park will have to remain closed, pet owners are welcome to run their dogs on the back lot of the former MacDougal School site on Broadway.