Water quality swimming advisory issued for sound-side site in New Hanover County

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — An advisory against swimming was posted Friday at a sound-side site in New Hanover County, where state officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.

The advisory is for the sound-side beach across from Whiskey Creek along the Intracoastal waterway near marker #135 in Wilmington.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality says that test results of water samples taken on May 14 and May 15 indicate bacteria levels.

People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the action level have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness or skin infections. 

State officials will continue testing the site and they will notify the public again when the bacteria levels decrease to levels below the standards.