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Divisions > Water Division > Programs/Bureaus/Units > Watershed Management Bureau >

Beach Inspection Program

With the public's help, the Beach Inspection Program works to ensure safe swimming for all at New Hampshire public swimming beaches. Always follow safe swimming practices when visiting outdoor swimming areas to reduce the chances of getting sick or spreading illness to others. With the support of local and state agencies, DES personnel collect water from coastal and freshwater beaches to test for fecal bacteria to protect public health. When bacteria counts at designated public beaches are higher than the state standards an advisory is issued to notify the public, approximately 24 hours after sampling. more…

Hot Topics (Complete List)

• Beach Data, Descriptions & Advisory Details
• Current Advisories
• Hampton Beach State Park is rated a Five Star Beach by NRDC
  N.H. Coastal Beaches rated 2nd Cleanest Beaches in Nation
• Subscribe to the Beach Advisories Newsletter

Publications

• Beach Program Brochure
• How to Identify Cyanobacteria
• Beach Manager Handbook
• Yearly Beach and Special Study Reports

Rules/Regulatory

• Administrative Rules for NH Beaches
• Federal BEACH Act
• Public Comment
• Sample Analyses

Education/Outreach

• Animals on Our Beaches
• Beach Advisories
• Get Your Butts off the Beach. Please!
• Health Risks and Indicator Organisms
• Pet Waste Outreach Campaign

Technical Assistance

• Beach Data, Descriptions & Advisory Details

Forms/Applications

• Application for New Beach Construction
• Report of Illness Forms

Resources/Links (Complete List)

• Blue Ocean Society
• Natural Resources Defense Council: 2012 Testing the Waters

FAQs (Complete List)

• Beach Inspections
• Advisories
• Illness
• Beach Rules
• Overall Water Quality
• Cyanobacteria
• Other Questions

Contact Us

• Sonya Carlson, Public Beach Program Coordinator
  NH Department of Environmental Services
  29 Hazen Drive; PO Box 95
  Concord, NH 03302-0095
  (603) 271-0698
  (603) 271-7894 (fax)
  beaches@des.nh.gov
  sonya.carlson@des.nh.gov

 

 

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NH Department of Environmental Services | 29 Hazen Drive | PO Box 95 | Concord, NH 03302-0095
(603) 271-3503 | TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 | Hours: M-F, 8am-4pm