State officials have lifted a swimming advisory for a sound-side area in Dare County after recent water tests showed bacteria levels have returned to acceptable standards.
The advisory, which was first issued on August 26, affected the sound-side swimming area in Colington Harbour at the end of Colington Drive in Kill Devil Hills. At that time, testing revealed that the monthly average of enterococci bacteria exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters for high-use sites. The warning sign advising against swimming and other water activities has now been removed following new test results.
“The advisory was 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,” officials stated.
Enterococci are bacteria found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Although not known to cause illness directly, their presence can signal other disease-causing organisms may be present. Swimming or playing in waters with elevated bacteria levels increases the risk of gastrointestinal illness or skin infections.
“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,” officials said.
The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program monitors 224 coastal sites across the state, with most locations sampled weekly from April through October. More information about this program and maps of testing sites can be found on its website and social media channels.
