State officials have lifted a swimming advisory for a sound-side area in Dare County. The decision follows water testing that confirmed bacteria levels have fallen below the standards set by both state and federal guidelines.
The advisory was initially issued on June 19 at the public access to Croatan Sound near Manteo. This followed test results from June 17 and June 18, which showed bacteria levels exceeding the threshold of 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, as established for recreational coastal waters. Subsequent tests indicated that bacteria levels have since dropped below these limits.
As a result, signs advising against activities such as swimming or skiing in the affected waters have been removed. Enterococci, used in testing, are found in warm-blooded animals’ intestines and may indicate other harmful organisms’ presence. While not directly causing illness, higher levels increase risks of gastrointestinal issues or skin infections.
North Carolina’s coastal recreational waters are generally clean but require ongoing monitoring to address localized issues. The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program oversees this effort, sampling 222 sites along the coast weekly from April through October.
For further details on the program or to view testing site maps, individuals can visit the program’s website or follow its social media updates.
