NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Peninsula Health District has issued a swimming advisory for King-Lincoln Park Beach Wednesday.
Located at 600 Jefferson Avenue, samples collected on Tuesday showed that bacteria levels in the water exceeded the state water quality standard.
On Thursday the advisory was lifted after re-sampling showed levels were safe again.
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.
“We encourage the public to protect their health by complying with this advisory,” said Carol Lien, environmental health manager of the Peninsula Health District. “Typically, an advisory of this nature is temporary and will be withdrawn once the bacteria levels have returned to a safe level.”
