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Town Departments Town Manager Board of Selectmen Boards, Committees & Commissions Assessing Building Community Development Engineering Finance/Purchasing Fire Health Human Resources Human Services Information Technology Library Planning Police Public Works Recreation School District Senior Services Tax Collector Town Clerk Utilities		Health Department  »  Environmental Issues  »  Beach Testing 2007 Beach Testing Results Summer Beach Testing Program During the summer months, water samples from association and public beaches in Salem are collected and submitted for microbiological analysis to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Laboratory in Concord. Typically, samples are collected at the beginning of June, July, and August of every year. The 100 milliliter samples are analyzed for Escherichia coli (E. coli), the indicator organism utilized to determine safe swimming conditions. The State of New Hampshire allows 88 colonies of E. coli per sample in Grade B Swimmable Waters. If a beach sample exceeds the standard of 88, a second sample is collected and analyzed to verify the results. If two subsequent samples exceed the standard, a notice is posted at the beach advising residents that it may be unsafe for swimming. The notice is kept posted until additional sampling verifies that the levels of bacterial have decreased and it is safe to swim. Residents are advised not feed geese and ducks to assist in maintaining a clean and safe beach. Birds will defecate in the area where they eat and this excrement is laden with bacteria which can affect the water quality of the beach. Also, ducks are the host for the parasite that causes Swimmers' Itch, see http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/bb/bb-2.htm. What Can I Do For My Beach Keep Litter, pet wastes, leaves and debris out of street gutters and storm drains. Apply lawn and garden chemicals sparingly and according to directions. Dispose of used oil, antifreeze, paints and other household chemicals properly. The town of Salem usually sponsors a Household Hazardous Waste Collection in September. Clean up spilled oil, brake fluid, grease and antifreeze. Do not hose into the street. Control soil erosion on your property. Summer Beach Testing Results -- August, 2005 On August 10, 2005, water samples from association and public beaches in Salem were collected and submitted for microbiological analysis to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Laboratory in Concord. The 100 milliliter samples were analyzed for Escherichia coli, the indicator organism utilized to determine safe swimming conditions. The State of New Hampshire allows 88 colonies of E. coli per sample in Grade B Swimmable Waters. The following beach sites were sampled and the results are as follows: Location: Escherichia coli Results: (In colonies per 100 ml samples) Hedgehog Pond 28 Shadow Lake 2 Captain's Pond <2 Millville Lake 2 Arlington Pond 14 Mary Ann 4 Arlington Pond Court 28 Franz Acres 6 Second Street 26 Blake Road <2
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