NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Peninsula Health District issued a swimming advisory for Hilton Beach on Wednesday.
Samples collected on Wednesday by the Peninsula Health District showed that bacteria levels in the water exceeded the state water quality standard.
On Thursday officials said they received results from re-sampling. These results indicate that bacteria levels in the water at Hilton Beach meet the state water quality standards for recreational waters. The swimming advisory is no longer in effect at this location.
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.
