North Carolina water quality officials have lifted two swimming advisories in Dare County after recent tests showed bacteria levels have dropped to safe levels.

The advisories were initially issued after tests showed high bacteria counts, but subsequent water testing confirmed that the water now meets state and federal standards for swimming and water activities.

Nags Head Beach Advisory Lifted

One of the advisories, issued on September 18, was for the public beach access at E. Hollowell Street in Nags Head. The water at this site previously showed a bacteria level of enterococci that exceeded the EPA’s safety threshold of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water. New tests, however, revealed that the bacteria levels have now fallen below that limit, prompting officials to lift the advisory.

Salvo Day Use Area Advisory Lifted

The second advisory, posted on October 3, affected the Salvo Day Use Area along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Initial tests in early October showed enterococci levels above 104 per 100 milliliters, which is the safety standard for recreational coastal waters. However, after more recent tests, bacteria levels dropped back within safe limits, leading officials to remove the advisory.

Health Risks and Water Quality Monitoring

Enterococci, the bacteria used in these tests, is naturally found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and is not known to cause illness directly. However, high levels of this bacteria can indicate the presence of harmful organisms that may cause gastrointestinal illnesses or skin infections in people exposed to the water.

While coastal waters in North Carolina are generally clean, officials stress the importance of routine monitoring to ensure public safety. The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program regularly tests 221 coastal sites, with most being checked weekly between April and October.

For more information about North Carolina’s water quality monitoring, visit the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program’s website, where you can also view a map of testing sites. Stay updated by following the program’s Twitter account for real-time information.