State officials have issued a swimming advisory for a sound-side area in Dare County after water samples showed bacteria levels above state and federal standards. The advisory applies to the swimming area in Colington Harbour at the end of Colington Drive in Kill Devil Hills.
According to state recreational water quality officials, recent testing found a running monthly average of 41 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water. This is higher than the standard set by both North Carolina and the Environmental Protection Agency, which is a running monthly average of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters based on five samples taken within 30 days.
Enterococci are bacteria found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. While not known to directly cause illness, their presence can indicate other disease-causing organisms may be present. Health experts note that people who swim or play in waters with high bacteria levels face an increased risk of gastrointestinal illness or skin infections.
Officials emphasized that this is not a beach closing and does not affect all of Kill Devil Hills. The advisory covers only waters within 200 feet of the posted sign at Colington Harbour. The sign states:
“ATTENTION SWIMMING IN THIS AREA IS NOT RECOMMENDED. BACTERIA TESTING INDICATES LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION THAT MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH. THIS ADVISORY AFFECTS WATERS WITHIN 200’ OF THIS SIGN. OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR”
The site will continue to be tested, and authorities will remove the sign and update the public when bacteria levels return below established standards.
Each year from April through October, recreational water quality officials sample 222 sites along North Carolina’s coast—most on a weekly basis—with reduced testing during months when fewer people are swimming. More information about these efforts, including maps of current testing sites, can be found on the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program’s website and social media accounts.
