NC RWQ Swimming Advisory

(Courtesy of N.C. RWQ)

Article Name: Water Quality Swimming Alert Issued for [site type] in [county]

Article Author: [author’s name]

Article Active [active date]

Article Data: Release: Immediate Contact: [RWQ contact]

Date: [posting date] Phone: [RWQ phone number]

Water Quality Swimming Alert Issued for [site type] in [county]

MOREHEAD CITY – State environmental health officials today are notifying the public that [sampling type] in [county] showed levels of bacteria exceeding the state and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality swimming standards.

State officials will test the site again today, and the result of the sampling will dictate further action. If the new sample also shows elevated bacteria counts, state officials will post a sign and issue a swimming advisory.

The alert affects waters at the [sampling site] at [location/city]. Samples collected [day of week] show test results that exceeded the state and federal single-sample standard of [maximum enterococcus concentration for beach tier]. Swimming areas are classified based on recreational use and are referred to as tiers.

The N.C. Division of Environmental Health tests water quality at ocean and sound beaches in accordance with federal and state laws.

Enterococci, the bacteria group used for testing, are found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. While enterococci does not cause illness itself, scientific studies indicate that its presence is closely correlated to 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.

Environmental health officials sample 240 sites throughout the coastal region, most of them on a weekly basis from April to October. Testing continues on a reduced schedule during the rest of the year, when the waters are colder.

To find out more about North Carolina’s beach water quality, visit the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program website at: http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/shellfish/Water_Monitoring/RWQweb/index.htm or on Twitter.com: @ncrecprgm.

The current and archieved advisories are available on the NC RWQ's website.