UPDATE: Swimming Advisory continues for Cape Charles Beach through this weekend – August 22, 2025
The town received notification from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) today that as a result of the department’s beach monitoring testing, a swimming advisory has been continued for the Cape Charles beach due to elevated test results. The water quality standard is 104 cfu/100ml; average enterococcus group bacteria counts about 104 cfu/100ml result in a swimming advisory.
The VDH will be back in town on Monday morning to pull more samples and the town should receive the results by Tuesday, August 26.(Nassawadox Va.) The Northampton County Health Department has issued a swimming advisory for the
Cape Charles Public Beach, Cape Charles, Virginia. Beach water samples collected on August 19, 2025
by the Virginia Department of Health showed that bacteria levels in the water 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 Eastern Shore Health District Director, 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 Cape Charles Public Beach
alerting the public of the advisory. The sign reads:
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
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 following 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) 414-6252. 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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Aww mannnnnn someone crapped in the water again?????