N. Hampton State Beach Now Safe for Swimming

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services declared early Tuesday evening that North Hampton State Beach is again safe for swimming.

after NHDES conducted regular testing on Thursday, prompting the state Division of Parks and Recreation to post a sign on the beach bathroom to notify residents the "BEACH MAY NOT SUITABLE FOR SWIMMING DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF BACTERIA."

Additional samples were collected Monday, and the results Tuesday showed the levels are back below the state's 104 counts of Enterococci -- the indicator organism for salt water bacterial testing -- per 100mL of water threshold.

NHDES Beach Program Assistant Teresa Ptak said the three sites tested Monday all revealed the Enterococci counts were at or below 10 per 100mL of water.

The cause of the bacteria has been determined unknown, according to Ptak.

She has said the recent septic problems at the beach likely didn't play a role, although watershed from the Little River or waterfowl and pet waste may have contributed to the high levels.

Ptak said unknown cases are common, and the state is currently in the process of a two-phase program targeted at reducing the number of those cases.

Residents voiced concerns Tuesday about the fact that the advisory was only posted in one place on the beach. All advisories are also posted on the NHDES website, although residents said they wished the notices were more readily available.