EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA

New Hampshire

Keeping beaches safe Hot weather, heavy rain can lead to high E. coli counts

By Jarret Bencks
Staff writer
Published: July 22, 2008

The waters have been clean this summer at most town beaches, but the recent combination of hot days and high precipitation could result in high bacteria levels, state and town officials said.

Heavy rain, high patronage and flocks of birds are the main causes of high E. coli counts at public beaches, said Jody Connor, a limnologist with the state Department of Environmental Services. E. coli bacteria is found in the lower intestine of mammals. When it becomes waterborne, exposure to it can result in flu-like symptoms and high fevers.

In Windham, weekly water samples are taken from Cobbetts Pond and sent to a private company to be tested for E. coli, said Cheryl Haas, town recreation director. Cobbetts Pond hasn't had any high readings of E. coli this year, but Haas said she wouldn't be surprised if the combination of rain and high temperatures resulted in a high count in this week's test. Cobbetts Pond usually tests high for E. coli one or two times per summer, Haas said.

The standard acceptable E. coli level for public beaches is 88 counts per 100 milliliter, according to Connor. If counts exceed 88, the state issues an advisory for the swimming area and signs are posted warning against swimming, but the beach is not closed. Connor said this is because beaches provide other recreational opportunities aside from swimming that they do not want to close to the public.

"We don't want to have to close the beach," Connor said. "We just want people to stay out of the water."

This year, Salem is the only town in the area to have recorded high E. coli counts. Three public beaches in that town had hazardously high counts earlier this month.

A sample taken on July 2 from Carmar Lane swimming area, a small neighborhood beach on Millville Lake, contained a count of 340, Connor said. A count of 240 was recorded at Camp Otter on the same day and Hedgehog Pond had a count of 93.

The samples from the Salem beaches were taken shortly after a rainstorm, Salem health officer Brian Lockard said, which may have contributed to the high readings. When the beaches were retested on July 7, the levels at all the beaches were within the state's standards.

Lockard collects monthly samples for the state to test, but if there is a high reading, he said he tests the water again within the next few days. He estimated that the town usually has one or two high readings per summer.

Most towns provide the Department of Environmental Services with samples to be tested once a month, but some towns, including Windham, conduct tests weekly.

Derry's Water Department tests the water at the beach at Hood Park for E. coli every week, said Eric Bodenrader, director of parks and recreation. Hood Park has not had any problems with bacteria so far this year, he said.

Good drainage around beaches can help keep dirty runoff water from swimming areas, Connor said. Also, limiting the number of swimmers and discouraging birds from hanging around beach areas can help keep the waters free of bacteria.

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