CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – New Hampshire’s coastal beaches have remained clean this summer despite sweltering heat and thousands of visitors.

The state Department of Environmental Services’s report on beaches found only one blemish. An advisory was posted about New Castle Town Beach, but the beach was within state standards within two days.

“It is certainly a good reflection on New Hampshire coastal waters and their quality compared to other states,” said Jody Connor, Liminology Center Director and manager of the beach program.

Connor credited the dry summer with helping keep the beaches clean.

“Some of the things that would influence coastal beaches (negatively) are a lot of birds in the water, heavy rain events and bathing load, how many people are swimming together at the same time,” Connor said.

The beach program monitors all state public beaches for bacteria and public health issues. This includes the 15 coastal public beaches, which stretch the length of New Hampshire’s 18-mile coast.

Of the 15 beaches, one is sampled once every two weeks, seven are sampled once per week and another seven are sampled twice per week.

“Without this structured sampling design, the public could be exposed to waterborne diseases,” said Connor.

The state inspection program has monitored public beaches for over 20 years in response to the potential health threats associated with waterborne pathogens.

The pathogens cause diseases such as cholera, giardiasis, gastroenteritis, and cryptosporidiosis.