Swimming advisories remain at four areas along Outer Banks
State water quality officials have lifted more precautionary swimming advisories for North Carolina’s coastal waters that stemmed from Tropical Storm Debby, but said four areas along the Outer Banks are still showing high bacteria levels.
According to The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program, test results of water samples taken from most soundside swimming sites south of the Wright Memorial Bridge show bacterial levels that meet the state’s and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s safe swimming standards.
The precautionary advisory for most oceanside sites was lifted on Aug. 14.
Four areas in Dare County remain under a precautionary swimming advisory due to bacteria levels that exceed safe swimming standards:
- Sandy Bay soundside access between Frisco and Hatteras village
- Colington Harbour swim beach at the end of Colington Drive
- Ocean waters at G.A. Kohler Court in Rodanthe
- Ocean waters at Tower Circle in Buxton
Recreational water quality officials continue to monitor these areas and will notify the public when conditions meet the state’s and EPA’s safe swimming standards.
The precautionary advisory was issued Aug. 7 as Tropical Storm Debby approached North Carolina.
Excessive rains and flooding can cause high levels of bacteria in the water that can make people sick. Floodwaters and storm water runoff can contain pollutants such as waste from septic systems, sewer line breaks, pet waste, wildlife, petroleum products and other chemicals.
Coastal recreational waters in North Carolina are generally clean. However, it is important to continue monitoring them and inform the public of any localized problems.
The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program samples 221 sites in coastal waters of the state, most of them on a weekly basis from April through October.
For more information on the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program or to a view a map of testing sites, visit the program’s website, and follow the program’s Twitter feed.
