Breck-Plankey Spring Closed for Cleaning

The Bristol Conservation Commission conducts voluntary sampling several times a year to check that the Breck-Plankey Spring is kept secure and free of contaminants. There is no State requirement that roadside springs be sampled or inspected.

As of today, July 24, 2025, the Conservation Commission has Closed the Breck-Plankey Spring for cleaning.

REASON: A water test showed that coliform was present.

The cleaning process will be conducted and re-testing will follow. All efforts will be to do this as speedily as possible.

Things Patrons Should Know:

• Most roadside springs consist of only a pipe that draws water from an open pool in the rocks.
• Some springs consist of pipes that withdraw water from a shallow source that is not directly open to the air, but is very shallow underground or within a rocky area or wall.
• The Breck-Plankey Spring withdraws water from a more secure source, a well tile set into the spring. It is sealed securely to minimize introduction of contaminants from direct contact; however, it can be subject to intrusion by stormwater and animal impacts on the ground near the well tile.
• All Roadside Springs are open to impacts from runoff from storms, wind, animals, insects, dust and dirt and humans.
• Regardless of efforts made to assure the spring’s water is not impacted at the source, there is always the potential for bacteria contamination at the discharge pipe due to humans touching the pipe or animals drinking from it.
• Additionally, the cleanliness of the containers used by patrons to collect the water is only as good as how clean the containers are brought to the spring.

The N.H. Department of Environmental Services and the Bristol Conservation Commission recommend at all times that you should boil water taken from a roadside spring before consumption.