UPDATE: The Northampton County Health Department retested fresh samples from the Cape Charles Beach, and the swim advisory has been lifted.
NASSAWADOX, Va. – The Eastern Shore Health District has lifted the swimming advisory that had been in place at 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 Cape Charles Beach, previously alerting the public of the advisory.
Environmental health officials collect water samples from Cape Charles Town Beach weekly throughout the summer swimming season. Beach water monitoring on the Eastern Shore of Virginia normally ends the week of Labor Day.
For additional information about the recent beach advisory, contact the Eastern Shore Health District 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
ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW
(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 11, 2026 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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From the spill in the Elizabeth River no doubt
Actually Jacob, a majority of these events are created by recreational boaters pumping their holding tanks out into the water. Usually at night, hopefully on an ougoing tide. Some marinas on the coast actually provide free holding tank pumpouts to help prevent this crappy behavior.