NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The swimming advisory for Hilton Beach in Newport News has been lifted, the Peninsula Health District announced Friday.
Results from re-sampling completed on Thursday indicate that bacteria levels in the water now meet the state water quality standard for recreational waters.
Environmental health officials sample Hilton, Huntington, Yorktown, King-Lincoln and Anderson public beaches on a weekly basis during the swimming season from May-September.
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.
Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the extent of fecal contamination of recreational waters. While these organisms 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.
Residents are reminded to observe the following guidelines as they enjoy the summer swimming season:
- Do not swim in water that looks stagnant, muddy, or smells unpleasant.
- Avoid swallowing river, stream, lake or other recreational water.
- Prevent direct contact between broken skin and recreational water.
- Avoid swimming in natural water bodies (rivers, streams, lakes, etc.) for several days after a heavy rainfall.
