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By Joe Edwards
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State officials have posted swimming advisories at three North Carolina coastal sites after detecting bacteria levels that exceeded state and federal water quality standards.
A North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) spokesperson told Newsweek on Monday: "The advisories issued last week are still in effect. All sites will continue to be sampled until results indicate safe swimming standards.
"The advisories issued were not unusual, as they followed a significant rain event which impacted much of [North Carolina's] coastal sound-side waters."
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Why It Matters
High bacteria levels in recreational waters can pose health risks to swimmers, including gastrointestinal illnesses and skin infections.
State scientists routinely sample over 200 sites to safeguard public health during peak swim seasons.
What To Know
The warnings, issued by NCDEQ, applied to areas in New Hanover, Dare, and Beaufort Counties and centered on elevated enterococci bacteria, which can indicate fecal contamination, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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Enterococci are a group of bacteria commonly found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. While not directly harmful, their presence in water may indicate the presence of other disease-causing organisms, the NCDEQ says.
Bacteria Levels by Affected Sites
- New Hanover County (Whiskey Creek, Intracoastal Waterway, Wilmington): Water samples on May 14 and 15, 2025, showed enterococci bacteria levels "that exceed the state and federal action levels of 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters for Tier 2 non-daily use sites."
- Dare County (Jockey's Ridge Sound-side Access, Nags Head): The running monthly average reached 37 enterococci per 100 milliliters. This surpasses both state and federal limits, which set a running monthly average of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters, based on five samples collected within a 30-day period.
- Beaufort County (Pantego Creek, intersection of East Main and Tooley Streets, Belhaven): The running monthly average was also 37 enterococci per 100 milliliters.
Each advisory affects waters within 200 feet of posted warning signs and does not constitute full beach closures, according to official press releases issued May 15 and 16, 2025.
What People Are Saying
The EPA says on its website: "When the amount of fecal bacteria exceed state or Tribal recreational criteria, this may result in beach closures, swimming and boating bans and closures of fishing and shellfishing areas."
According to the NCDEQ, the signs in affected areas read as follows: "Attention.
"Swimming in the area is not recommended.
"Bacteria testing indicated levels of contamination that may be hazardous to your health.
"This advisory affects waters within 200' of this sign."
What Happens Next
North Carolina officials said testing will continue at the affected sites and advisories would be lifted once bacteria levels return to state and EPA standards. Further updates and real-time advisory locations are available through the state's Recreational Water Quality Program website.
The state's recreational water quality officials test 221 coastal sites, most on a weekly basis, from April through October. During the colder months, testing is carried out less frequently, the releases said.
Update 5/21/2025, 12:56 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from the NCDEQ.
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