State recreational water quality officials on Wednesday posted advisories warning swimmers to stay out of waters at two public access sites.
Routine water testing revealed that bacteria levels at accesses on sounds in Carteret County and New Hanover County exceed state and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recreational water quality standards.
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Five water samples collected within a 30-day period at the public access to Bogue Sound at 16th Street in Morehead City tested for a monthly average of 38 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, which surpass state and federal standards of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, according to a N.C. Department of Environmental Quality release.
Samples collected within a 30-day period at the public access to Banks Channel off Waynick Boulevard in Wrightsville Beach indicate a running monthly average of 39 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water.
Advisories are for waters within 200 feet of where the state posts a sign.
Enterococci are bacteria found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. High levels of this bacteria in water may increase the risk of people developing gastrointestinal illness or skin infections.
State testing will continue at these sites. Officials will remove the signs and notify the public once the bacteria levels dip below the standards.
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The state tests more than 200 sites throughout the coastal region on a near-weekly basis between April and October.
More information on the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program may be found at the program’s website and on the program’s Twitter feed.
For more information on the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program or to a view a map of testing sites, visit the program’s website, and follow the program’s Twitter feed.
