Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication, and Health Program
Washington State Department of Ecology
Washington State Department of Health Beach Program


science

What is the Sampling Method?

We monitor our beaches weekly from Memorial Day to Labor Day. We collect three samples across the beach at knee depth using sterile techniques. We take an average of the three samples because, due to the nature of bacteria, results are highly variable, and we want to ensure that we are accurately representing the actual risk at the beach.

sampling water for bacteria

For more information about the BEACH Program or comments on the website, contact Jessica Archer at jarc461@ecy.wa.gov.

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