State officials have ended a swimming advisory for a sound-side area in Brunswick County after water testing showed bacteria levels are now within acceptable limits. The advisory, which had been in effect at the public kayak launch in Cottage Creek at the end of W. West Street in Southport since October 16, was removed following new test results.
The initial advisory was based on water samples collected on October 14 and 15, which showed enterococci bacteria levels above 104 per 100 milliliters—the standard set by state and federal agencies for recreational coastal waters. A recent sample taken on October 27 indicated that bacteria concentrations had fallen below both North Carolina’s and the Environmental Protection Agency’s standards for safe swimming and water play.
“The advisory was 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,” according to officials.
The warning sign advising against swimming or contact with the water has now been taken down.
Enterococci bacteria, used as an indicator during testing, originate from the intestines of warm-blooded animals. While not known to directly cause illness, their presence can signal contamination by other harmful organisms. Health risks increase when people swim or play in waters where bacterial counts exceed recommended thresholds; these risks include gastrointestinal illnesses and skin infections.
Officials note that most coastal recreational waters in North Carolina remain clean but emphasize continued monitoring is important to identify localized issues. The North Carolina Recreational Water Quality Program conducts regular sampling at 224 sites along the coast, primarily from April through October each year.
For further details about the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program or to view a map of testing locations, residents can visit the program’s website or follow its social media accounts.
