State officials have lifted swimming advisories at two public access sites in Carteret County after water testing showed bacteria levels have returned to acceptable standards.
The advisories, which were put in place on August 12 for areas in Morehead City—specifically the public access points to Bogue Sound at 16th Street and Sunset Drive—were removed following recent tests. The initial warnings were due to monthly average readings of enterococci bacteria exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water for high-use recreational sites. Updated sampling indicated that bacteria concentrations are now below this standard, prompting removal of posted 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.”
Enterococci are used as an indicator organism for water quality monitoring. While not known to cause illness themselves, their presence can signal contamination by other disease-causing organisms. Exposure to waters with elevated bacterial counts may increase risks for gastrointestinal or skin-related illnesses.
“Enterococci, the bacteria group used for testing, is found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. While it is not known to cause illness, scientific studies show that enterococci may indicate the presence of other disease-causing organisms. People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standards have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness or skin infections,” officials stated.
Coastal recreational waters across North Carolina generally remain clean. Ongoing monitoring continues through the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program, which samples 224 coastal locations, most on a weekly basis between April and October.
“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. The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program samples 224 sites in coastal waters of the state, most of them on a weekly basis from April through October,” officials said.
More information about current testing results and site maps can be found on the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program’s website.
