State Issues Cyanobacteria Advisory For Charles River Near Waltham

WALTHAM — Massachusetts health officials issued a precautionary cyanobacteria advisory covering stretches of the Charles River upstream of Waltham, touching Newton, Needham, Dedham and West Roxbury, the town's News Flash system reported Tuesday.

TOWN HALL

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health's advisory, posted through the town's News Flash alerts on Aug. 18, asks residents to avoid contact with water in the affected river sections while the algae bloom is monitored. The advisory does not name Waltham directly but covers water upstream along the Charles's path through the city, and officials are watching for the bloom's movement downstream.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS

"These Are The Best Public High Schools In MA For 2026-27: U.S. News," per Waltham Patch, which noted the statewide rankings are built from six separate school performance measures. (read it at https://link.patch.com/click/47105046.4690/aHR0cHM6Ly9wYXRjaC5jb20vbWFzc2FjaHVzZXR0cy93YWx0aGFtL3Mva240MmYvdGhlc2UtYXJlLXRoZS1iZXN0LXB1YmxpYy1oaWdoLXNjaG9vbHMtaW4tbWEtZm9yLTIwMjYtMjctdS1zLW5ld3M_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyLWRhaWx5JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3Rlcm09c2Nob29scyZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1hcnRpY2xlLXRvcHN0b3JpZXM)

"Ohio festival billed as world's largest annual gathering of twins," The Detroit News reports, featuring Waltham sisters Jen and Sarah Caban, who traveled to Twinsburg, Ohio for the event. (read it at https://www.detroitnews.com/picture-gallery/life/2026/08/18/ohio-festival-is-the-worlds-largest-annual-gathering-of-twins-and-multiples/91354168007/)

Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.