Beltzville State Park in Lehighton closed for swimming on Wednesday for the third time this summer due to unsafe bacterial counts.

The park administers water testing on a daily basis, and samples taken on June 30 resulted in a reading above the level considered safe.The standard level is determined by the Department of Health.According to Terry Brady, deputy press secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, a number of factors make the lake water prone to high bacteria counts."It's been a recurring problem because there's farmland nearby," Brady said.He believes that the recent rain has caused runoff from farms to drain into the lake water, affecting the water's nutrients.Because the lake is an open area, the constant sunlight increases water temperature, which aggravates the situation even further.Also around the state park are a number of geese, and their excrement can draw bacteria as well.To control the population of geese, the park encourages waterfowl hunting, and signs are posted on beaches, urging bathers not to feed the geese.The recent closing can be the outcome of one or all of the possible variables.In order to keep the water as clean as possible, littering is strongly discouraged, and the park posts signs to educate people on proper etiquette when visiting the lake.Brady said, "It could be just the geographic location and weather situations. It's a natural body of water, not a swimming pool. We can't add chlorine or anything like that."If the water conditions do not change, the park will not be open on July 4.However, Brady said park officials are doing all they can to get a good test result before the holiday weekend.