High Fecal Bacteria Levels Found At Wallis Sands State Beach

RYE, NH — State Of New Hampshire officials announced on Aug. 20 the test results for the water at Wallis Sands Beach on Wallis Road in Rye has caused them to issue an "advisory."

In the posting on the state website it stated:

"SAMPLES COLLECTED 8/19 EXCEEDED THE STATE STANDARD (104 MPN/100ML; ENTEROCOCCI) FOR FECAL BACTERIA. THE ADVISORY REMAINS UNTIL BACTERIA COUNTS ARE BELOW THE STATE STANDARD. RESAMPLING 8/24/20, NEW RESULTS 8/25/20."

On the State of NH website listing beach advisories, it explains the reasons for beach advisories:

NHDES posts beach advisories when sample analyses result in bacteria levels above the state standard, indicating the possible presence of disease-causing organisms, or a toxic cyanobacteria scum. These advisories are recommendations to the public to avoid water contact activities at the beach until further analyses reveal safe conditions.

Jenness State Beach in Rye, NH and North Beach in Hampton, NH earlier in the month also had high levels of fecal bacteria, both have since been cleared for safe swimming.

When is a Beach Advisory posted?
"At a coastal beach, an advisory is posted if sample results exceed the state standard of 104 counts of Enterococci per 100 ml of water."

NHDES works cooperatively with municipalities, state departments or beach managers to post these advisories. The Beach Program has produced three signs to indicate a beach advisory. Click here to view samples of the signs.

Beach managers may use their own discretion to actively close a beach to the public. They may place barriers at the entrances or post signs indicating the closure. The municipality must notify the Beach Program of their intentions to close a particular beach.

The Beach Program will immediately resample all beaches upon issuing an advisory. Once it has been determined that the bacteria concentration is within the state standard, the advisory signs will be removed from the beach area

Any listings for beach advisories that were placed on the NHDES web site will be updated as results are available.