UPDATE: Bacteria Advisory Closes N. Hampton State Beach for Swimming

The state's Department of Environmental Services is recommending no one swim, wade or drink the water off North Hampton State Beach today due to high levels of bacteria.

A notice about the bacteria has been posted at the beach by the state Division of Parks and Recreation, and instructs residents "THIS BEACH MAY NOT SUITABLE FOR SWIMMING DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF BACTERIA."

The advisory was issued for North Hampton State Beach on Friday based on sampling from Thursday, and is still in effect today, according to NHDES Beach Program Assistant Teresa Ptak.

Ptak said the state bacteria standard for marine waters is set at 104 counts of Enterococci -- the indicator organism for salt water bacterial testing -- per 100mL of water. Each of the three testing sites along North Hampton Beach all found between 280 and 410 counts on Thursday. 

Ptak said the cause of the bacteria is unknown, although she said it is unlikely that recent septic problems with the beach's bathroom facilities have played a role.

"Typically if there is an issue with sewage or a failing septic system, the numbers we would see would be in the thousands," said Ptak.

Ptak said it is typical to have higher bacteria levels following heavy rainfall like last week, and said the Little River watershed could play a role in Thursday's localized findings, as could waterfowl fecal matter and pet waste.

"They all contribute," she said. "There could be many sources for the bacteria and it’s difficult to pinpoint one particular attribute, but we're trying to pin it down." 

Ptak urged anyone who has had contact with the water to take basic hygiene precautions, such as washing before eating.

She said the bacteria levels found in the water don't pose a "severe" health risk, although individuals with weak immune systems, children and the elderly may notice gastrointestinal problems if they ingested the water.

"It's not alarming at this point," said Ptak, even though some of the levels are four times higher than the state threshold. "I wouldn’t say there is any case for alarm at this point."

It was unclear Tuesday how many signs had been posted at the beach over the weekend, and it was unclear how many people may have been in the water since the advisory was issued.

A lifeguard on duty at the beach Tuesday has been instructing visitors not to enter the water.

Ptak said DES only requires postings, not closures, when advisories are issued. Resident Amy Kane raised concerns about the fact that there was only one sign -- posted near the women's bathroom -- visible on Tuesday.

"If it's not safe, there should be more than one sign at one end of the parking lot, and one lifeguard or safety official in charge of monitoring the entire beach," said Kane. "People shouldn't be paying $1.50 an hour before they know they can't swim, especially when all other ocean beaches are open to swimming."

Parks and recreation officials -- the individuals in charge of monitoring the beach and making the determination to closing off the water or other areas -- couldn't initially be reached for comment Tuesday.

Steve Fournier, North Hampton's town administrator and health officer, also couldn't immediately be reached.

DES conducted additional testing Monday, and the results of the sampling will be available later this afternoon, said Ptak, because it takes 24 hours to process the findings.

No other advisories have been issued as of Tuesday for nearby state beaches.

The last advisory issued at North Hampton State Beach was a four-day advisory beginning on June 15, 2010.

The highest level of bacteria found during that testing was 290 counts of Enterococci per 100ml of water, and the advisory was cleared after levels dropped dramatically by June 19, said Ptak.

More information about the advisory is posted on the DES's beach advisory page, where residents can register for e-mail and Twitter alerts.