Two advisories were issued on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at two areas on Banks Channel in Wrightsville Beach for bacteria found in the water
that exceeds North Carolina and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational
water quality standards.
One of the locations is at the public access about 150 yards
north of Iula Street and the other is at the public access between Taylor and
Bellamy Streets.
The notice was sent in a press release from the North
Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources.
The test results, from Monday, Oct. 1, revealed that the
bacteria levels exceeded 104 enterococci
per 100 milliliters for Tier 1 high usage sites.
Swimming in waters with high levels of enterococci could cause gastrointestinal illnesses and skin infections.
Signs were posted at both sites, and swimmers should remain 200 feet away from
the signs while in the water.
State officials tested the sites again on Tuesday, Oct. 2. The public will be notified and the signs will be removed when the bacteria levels decrease to below state and federal standards.
