Water quality swimming advisories lifted for two Brunswick County sites
SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — State recreational water quality officials have lifted two swimming advisories for sound-side sites in Brunswick County after recent testing showed bacteria levels have returned to safe levels.
The advisories, issued last week for two locations in Southport, were lifted Wednesday after water samples showed bacteria concentrations had dropped below state and federal standards for recreational use.
The affected locations included:
- The public kayak launch in Cottage Creek at the end of W. West Street.
- The public beach area along the Cape Fear River next to the municipal pier at the end of South Davis Street.
The advisories were originally issued Aug. 6 after water samples collected Aug. 4 and Aug. 5 detected enterococci bacteria levels exceeding the recreational water quality standard of 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water.
Officials with the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program said follow-up testing found bacteria levels below state and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, allowing the warning signs advising against swimming, skiing and other water contact activities to be removed.
Enterococci bacteria are commonly found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. While the bacteria itself is not typically known to cause illness, its presence can indicate other disease-causing organisms may be in the water. Swimming in water with elevated bacteria levels can increase the risk of gastrointestinal illness and skin infections.
