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Swimming advisory lifted for Newport News beach

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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A swimming advisory has been lifted for Hilton Beach in Newport News Thursday.

The advisory was issued Wednesday after samples taken showed bacteria results exceeded safe levels. Environmental health officials sample Hilton, Huntington, Yorktown, King-Lincoln and Anderson public beaches on a weekly basis during the swimming season from May to September.

Advisories for multiple beaches were announced Tuesday.

Recreational waters are checked during the summer months for high levels of bacteria.

Indicator organisms like enterococci are monitored and when they are too high, a sign is posted at the beach.

Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the amount of fecal contamination of recreation water. They do not cause illness but research shows when enterococci are present, other disease-causing organisms may be as well.