WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — The state department for water quality has posted an advisory against swimming in one area of a New Hanover County beach town.
Posted soundside, at the public access to Banks Channel off Waynick Boulevard approximately 150 yards North of Iula Street in Wrightsville Beach, a sign advises swimmers to stay out of the water 200 feet of the post. Elevated bacteria levels have been found in the water.
Water sample tests resulted in a monthly average of 39 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water; this is in excess of the state’s monthly average of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters. The advisory was put in place after officials conducted testing on five samples over a 30-day period.
Enterococci can be found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and though it’s not linked to illness, it’s indicative 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,” according to the state agency.
The public will be notified once water samples are testing to state standards again and the signs will be removed.
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