Bacteria days: results for June 21, 2018
Dear River and Watershed Friends,
Upper Merrimack Monitoring Program volunteers began the bacteria sampling season with 100% sampling at 100% of the eleven sites on the Merrimack River from Franklin to Bow and on the Pemigewasset, Winnipesaukee, and Contoocook Rivers.
We have another yet high (higher even than two weeks ago) reading on the Pemigewasset. This is troubling given that our two samples this season have occurred during very dry conditions. It is doubly disturbing because this is the same site where the last sample of 2017 had the same bacteria colonies. There is something happening at Site 1 and we will do our best to pinpoint the source and find partners to address it.
All other samples are well within the Class B standard and most are within the Class A standard.
As a reminder, the readings shown below are the number of E. coli bacteria colonies for every 100 millilitres of water. Warm blooded animals (including humans) all have E. coli in their guts. State designated swim beaches are not allowed to exceed 88 colonies and Class B waters (all of our sites are Class B waters) should be below 406 colonies. Here are the details.
| Site number and description | |
| 1 Pemigewasset | 1,986.3 |
| 2 Winnipesaukee | 35.0 |
| 3 Merrimack above FWWT Plant | 101.2 |
| 4 Merrimack below FWWT Plant | 61.3 |
| 5 Merrimack Jamie Welch Park | 118.7 |
| 6 Merrimack Route 4 Bypass | 43.1 |
| 7 Contoocook at Rivco | 63.1 |
| 8 Merrimack Sewalls Falls | 32.3 |
| 9 Merrimack Manchester St | 78.5 |
| 10 Merrimack Blue Seal | 35.0 |
| 11 Merrimack Garvins Falls | 29.8 |
You’ll hear from us again after the July 12 sampling day.
Please visit our fresh and newly designed forum at MerrimackRiver.org/forum.
You can also find us at MerrimackRiver.org for further information or don’t hesitate to contact us at UMMP@MerrimackRiver.org or 603.796.2615 should you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Michele L Tremblay Stephen C Landry
Program Manager Sampling Supervisor
