GIARDIA AND E.COLI IN THAT WATER FROM THE SPRING. WATER FROM NATURAL SPRINGS LIKE THIS ONE CAN LOOK CLEAN AND TASTE FINE. BUT 15 PEOPLE WHO DRANK FROM THIS SPRING ON THE SIDE OF OLD FRANCONIA ROAD IN BETHLEHEM HAVE GOTTEN SICK. STATE LAB TESTING NOW CONFIRMS THE PRESENCE OF THE PARASITE GIARDIA AND THE BACTERIA E.COLI IN THE WATER. IT’S ONE OF THOSE ORGANISMS YOU WORRY ABOUT IF YOU’RE OUT BACKPACKING OR CAMPING OR HIKING. AND WHY? WHY PEOPLE TELL YOU DON’T DRINK FROM, YOU KNOW, NATURAL SPRINGS OR RIVERS OR LAKES THAT YOU COME ACROSS ON A TRAIL. STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST BENJAMIN CHAN SAYS GIARDIA INFECTIONS CAN CAUSE SYMPTOMS FOR WEEKS. GIARDIA IS NOT USUALLY AN INFECTION. THAT’S LIFE THREATENING, BUT IT DOES CAUSE INTESTINAL STOMACH ILLNESS. SO NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIARRHEA, STOMACH CRAMPING AND ANECDOTAL REPORTS HAVE THE STATE CONCERNED. SOME FOLKS MAY HAVE GALLONS OF WATER FROM THE SPRING STORED FOR THEIR PERSONAL USE. IN THE IDEAL WORLD, PEOPLE WOULD JUST THROW THIS WATER OUT AND NOT USE IT. BUT IF THERE’S A NECESSITY THAT PEOPLE NEED THIS WATER, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE TREATED BEFORE THEY USE IT, AND THAT WATER SHOULD BE BOILED FOR AT LEAST A MINUTE OR TWO. NOW, DOCTOR CHAN ALSO SAYS THIS SERVES AS A GOOD REMINDER FOR FOLKS WITH PRIVATE WELLS TO ROUTINELY TEST THEM. WE’LL HAVE THE LINK TO THE
New Hampshire health officials warn about Bethlehem spring after 15 become ill
Updated: 6:23 PM EDT Sep 12, 2025
Water from natural springs can look clean and taste fine, but 15 people who drank from a spring on the side of Old Franconia Road in Bethlehem have gotten sick.State lab testing now confirms the presence of the parasite giardia and the bacteria E. coli in the water. “It’s one of those organisms you worry about if you’re out backpacking or camping or hiking,” Dr. Benjamin Chan, the New Hampshire state epidemiologist, said. “People tell you don’t drink from, you know, natural springs or rivers or lakes that you come across on a trail.”Chan said giardia infections can cause symptoms for weeks.”Giardia is not usually an infection that’s life-threatening. But it does cause intestinal stomach illness, so nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping,” Chan said.Anecdotal reports have the state concerned some folks might have gallons of water from the spring stored for their personal use.”In the ideal world, people would just throw this water out, not use it. But if there’s a necessity that people need this water, then it needs to be treated before they use it, and that water should be boiled for at least a minute or two,” Chan said.Chan also said this serves as a good reminder for folks with private wells to routinely test them. For more information about private wells, see this information sheet from the state.
BETHLEHEM, N.H. —
Water from natural springs can look clean and taste fine, but 15 people who drank from a spring on the side of Old Franconia Road in Bethlehem have gotten sick.
State lab testing now confirms the presence of the parasite giardia and the bacteria E. coli in the water.
“It’s one of those organisms you worry about if you’re out backpacking or camping or hiking,” Dr. Benjamin Chan, the New Hampshire state epidemiologist, said. “People tell you don’t drink from, you know, natural springs or rivers or lakes that you come across on a trail.”
Chan said giardia infections can cause symptoms for weeks.
“Giardia is not usually an infection that’s life-threatening. But it does cause intestinal stomach illness, so nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping,” Chan said.
Anecdotal reports have the state concerned some folks might have gallons of water from the spring stored for their personal use.
“In the ideal world, people would just throw this water out, not use it. But if there’s a necessity that people need this water, then it needs to be treated before they use it, and that water should be boiled for at least a minute or two,” Chan said.
Chan also said this serves as a good reminder for folks with private wells to routinely test them. For more information about private wells, see this information sheet from the state.