STATE OFFICIALS: Bacteria levels high at Topsail Beach, more tests planned

TOPSAIL BEACH, NC (Press Release) — State recreational water quality officials today(Tuesday) are alerting the public that initial testing at one ocean-side site and one sound-side site in Pender County showed levels of bacteria exceeding the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality swimming standards.

The alerts are for the following swimming areas in Topsail Beach: public beach access #18 across from Boryk Ave. off Ocean Boulevard; and at the public sound-side access #S-1 at the end of Shore Line Drive. Samples collected yesterday at these sites show test results that exceed the state and federal single-sample standard of 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters for Tier 1 high-usage sites. Swimming areas are classified based on recreational use and are referred to as tiers.

State officials will test these sites again today, and the results of the sampling will dictate further action. If the new samples also show elevated bacteria counts, state officials will post a swimming advisory sign and issue a swimming advisory.

The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program 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 it does not cause illness, scientific studies indicate 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.

 State officials sample 204 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.