DARE Co., N.C. – A swim advisory has been lifted at Colington Harbour Swimming Beach.
The advisory was canceled on Wednesday by state recreational water quality officials.
An advisory meant that enterococci levels previously exceed the official standards for swimming at this particular monitoring site.
Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria routinely during the summer swimming season, using indicator organisms such as enterococci, the indicator of choice for estuarine and marine waters.
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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.
People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standard have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness.
