State officials have lifted swimming advisories at two locations in Dare County after water testing showed bacteria levels had dropped below state and federal standards. The advisories, which were initially posted due to elevated bacteria counts, affected the sound-side swimming area in Colington Harbour at the end of Colington Drive and the public beach access at E. Oregon Street in Kill Devil Hills.
The first advisory was issued on August 5 for Colington Harbour, while the second was posted on August 12 for E. Oregon Street. Both sites had previously shown monthly averages of enterococci bacteria above the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, which is the standard for high-use recreational areas. After subsequent sampling, officials determined that bacteria levels had fallen below this standard, leading to removal of warning signs.
According to state officials: “The advisories were lifted because water testing shows that bacteria levels have dropped below the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s standards set for swimming and water play. However, state officials continue to urge the public to avoid swimming or wading in low-lying areas impacted by storm surge that is predicted to occur from Hurricane Erin.”
Enterococci are used as an indicator organism in water quality testing because they are found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. While not known to cause illness directly, their presence may signal other disease-causing organisms are present. Exposure to waters with high levels of these bacteria can increase risks for gastrointestinal illness or skin infections.
Officials note that North Carolina’s coastal recreational waters are generally clean but emphasize ongoing monitoring and public notification when localized problems arise. The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program conducts regular sampling at 224 coastal sites across the state, with most locations tested weekly from April through October.
For more information about monitoring efforts or to view a map of testing sites, residents can visit the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program’s website or follow its social media accounts.
