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- How often are public beaches inspected?
Both public coastal and freshwater beaches are monitored from approximately Memorial Day to Labor Day. Sixteen coastal beaches are inspected once or twice a week depending on visitor frequency. For example, the beach usage at Hampton Beach State Park warrants a higher monitoring frequency than some of the smaller and less visited coastal beaches. Over 160 inland freshwater beaches are sampled once per month. Local municipalities that have their own programs, such as Salem, Manchester, Laconia and Amherst, sample more frequently.
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- What happens during a beach inspection?
Water samples are collected from the designated beach area by program staff for bacteria analysis. Staff notes the presence, or lack, of restroom facilities, lifeguards, trash receptacles, rescue equipment, signs and cyanobacteria. If a cyanobacteria bloom is suspected, the inspector will collect a sample to be microscopically analyzed. The number of bathers, dogs and wildlife present are recorded.
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- Who pays for the sampling? How much does it cost?
Since there are currently no available funds for freshwater sampling, the town/owner/association of a monitored freshwater beach is responsible for the cost. The cost of sampling a coastal beach is shared between the town and the Beach Program. The cost of bacteria analysis at the DES microbiology lab is currently $20 per sample. It is important to note that costs accumulate if a beach area is posted for high bacteria levels and requires re-testing until state standards are met.
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- How many samples are taken per beach?
It is the intention of the Beach program to obtain a representative overview of the area since bacteria can be localized. Depending on the size of the beach, inspections can include two to five water samples. A designated beach area less than 100 feet in length requires only a left and right sample station, while a beach longer than 100 feet will be sampled at left, center and right stations. Beaches of greater than 2,000 feet may have additional sampling locations. Samples are collected at pre-determined stations and are identified in relation to facing the waterfront.
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- Is my beach being sampled? If not, how do I go about having it sampled?
If your beach is being sampled, it should have a green sign posted at the entrance stating that it is monitored by the DES Beach program. You can also contact the beach manager or town recreation department to inquire if it is being monitored. If you would like a beach to be sampled that is not already monitored by the program, contact the beach manager/owner/association for the particular beach or contact the DES Beach Program at (603) 271-0698 or beaches@des.nh.gov for information regarding funding and sampling.
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- How do I get all the results from the sampling at my beach?
You can obtain results from the “One Stop” data provider on the DES website. Directions are as follows:
- From the NHDES home page click on the OneStop icon at the left.
- Click on Go to OneStop Data Retrieval Site link. Then follow the link for Environmental Monitoring Data at the bottom of the left column.
- Select “Grab Samples” as the type of data to query and click the “Go” button.
- Fill in your email address so that results can be sent to you. Don’t select options for every box listed; the broader your search the more likely you will be successful. For example, toward the bottom, fill in the box for Beach Name. Use the drop-down arrow to select one from the list. You may also want to specify a Date Range, if you are interested in results from a particular time period.
- Submit your query. The results will be emailed to you shortly. Take note: When you open the Excel file containing the results, there will be multiple worksheets containing information—the data you are interested in should be contained in the second worksheet. If you want help interpreting the data, then from here: http://www2.des.state.nh.us/OneStop/Environmental_Monitoring_Query.aspx, click on “Interpreting the Data,” and then “Interpreting Beach Water Quality Data.”
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- What are the tools that a beach inspector uses and what are they used for?
The following tools are utilized during a typical inspection:
- Sterile sample bottles for bacterial analysis
- Thermometer
- Inspection sheet
- Waders, as needed
- Sampling pole, as needed
- Gloves, as needed
- Non-sterile cyanobacteria sample bottles, used for freshwater only
The sample bottles are always labeled with the date, time, location and collector’s initials. Inspectors take care not to touch the inside of the cap or rim of the sterile bottle to prevent cross contamination. A thermometer is used to measure the temperature of the water in degrees Celsius. On the data sheet, the inspector records the date, time, location, temperature, weather, tide level, water condition (clear, turbid etc.), # of bathers, # of birds, # of dogs or other wildlife, and any additional comments. Waders, gloves and the sampling pole might be used when the water is under an advisory or reaches cold temperatures.
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