LOCAL BEACH SWIMMING ADVISORIES LIFTED
Kiptopeke State Park and Cape Charles Town Beach
Water Bacteria Levels Improved
(Nassawadox, Va.) The Eastern Shore Health District has lifted the swimming advisory that had been in place at Kiptopeke State park and Cape Charles Town Beach in Cape Charles, Virginia. Recent follow up testing conducted within 24 hours of the initial samples confirmed that bacteria levels in the water once again meet the State Water Quality Standards. Signs have been removed from Kiptopeke State Park and Cape Charles Beach, previously alerting the public of the advisory.
(Nassawadox, Va.) The Northampton County Health Department has issued swimming advisories for the Kiptopeke State Park Beach, and the Town of Cape Charles Public Beach. Beach water samples collected on August 27, 2019 by the Virginia Department of Health showed that bacteria levels in the water at these two beaches exceeded the State Water Quality Standards.
Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria using indicator organisms such as enterococci, the indicator of choice for estuarine and marine waters. “The coastal waters of Virginia are generally very clean, and we test them frequently to confirm this,” said Environmental Health Manager, Jon Richardson. “On the occasions when waters do fail to meet the standards, we need to protect public health by letting residents and visitors know.” Signs have been posted at the Kiptopeke State Park Beach and the Town of Cape Charles Public Beach alerting the public of the advisories. The signs read:
Warning! Swimming Advisory
Bacteria Levels Do Not Meet State Water Quality Standards
Swimming Not Recommended Until Further Notice
Health officials will continue testing the site, and they will remove the signs and notify the public again when the bacteria levels decrease to levels that meet the standard. Environmental Health officials sample Kiptopeke State Park Beach and the Town of Cape Charles Public Beach on a weekly basis during the swimming season from late May to early September.
Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the extent of fecal contamination of recreational waters. While they do not cause illness, scientific studies indicate that their presence is closely correlated to the presence of other disease-causing organisms. People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standard have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness. “We encourage the public to protect their health by complying with this advisory,” said Richardson. “Typically, an advisory of this nature is temporary and will be withdrawn once the bacteria levels have returned to a safe level.”
For additional information on beach advisories, contact the Northampton County Health Department at (757)442-6228. To learn more about the beach water monitoring program in Virginia visit http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-epidemiology/beach-monitoring/. For more information about recreational water swimming safety, visit the website www.swimhealthyva.com.
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Now didn’t we just have a tourist’s dog poop in the water on the beach? If you don’t police it they will come. We need regulations enforced during the tourist season.
Released just in time for the holiday weekend. Obey the government.