State officials have issued a swimming advisory for a sound-side area in Dare County after water testing revealed bacteria levels above state and federal standards. The affected location is the swimming area in Colington Harbour at the end of Colington Drive in Kill Devil Hills.
Testing showed a running monthly average of 39 enterococci per 100 milliliters, exceeding the standard of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters set by both North Carolina and the Environmental Protection Agency. These results are based on five samples collected over a 30-day period.
Enterococci bacteria, which are found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals, do not directly cause illness but can indicate the presence of other harmful organisms. Health officials warn that exposure to waters with high bacteria levels increases the risk of gastrointestinal illness or skin infections.
“This advisory is not a beach closing, nor does the advisory affect the entire Kill Devil Hills area. Swimming advisories are for waters within 200 feet of the sign,” according to state health officials.
The posted sign reads:
“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”
Officials will continue to test water quality at this site and will remove the advisory once bacteria levels return to acceptable standards.
Throughout coastal North Carolina, recreational water quality officials monitor 224 sites, most on a weekly basis from April through October, with reduced testing during colder months when fewer people swim. More information about monitoring efforts and an interactive map of sampling locations can be found on the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program’s website and social media accounts.
