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 affects the swimming area in Colington Harbour at the end of Colington Drive in Kill Devil Hills.
Testing found a running monthly average of 41 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, which is higher than the state and Environmental Protection Agency standard of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters. These results are based on five samples taken within a 30-day period.
Enterococci are bacteria commonly found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. While not known to cause illness directly, their presence can indicate other disease-causing organisms may be present. Health officials warn that people who swim or play in waters with elevated bacteria levels face an increased risk of gastrointestinal illness or skin infections.
The advisory does not close the beach or affect all areas of Kill Devil Hills. It applies only to waters within 200 feet of the posted sign, which 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”
Officials will continue testing at the site and will remove the sign and notify the public when bacteria levels return to acceptable limits.
Recreational water quality officials regularly sample 222 sites along North Carolina’s coast, most on a weekly basis from April through October. Testing continues during other months but less frequently due to lower numbers of swimmers. More information about testing sites and updates can be found on the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program’s website (https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/nc-recreational-water-quality-program) and social media accounts.
