8 NC river sites fail tests for E. coli bacteria one week after Debby’s impacts

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — After the torrential rain from Tropical Storm Debby, how safe are the waters of North Carolina rivers many enjoy swimming in during the summer?

Each week, the nonprofit organization Sound Rivers tests popular swimming locations along the Upper and Lower Neuse River as well as the Tar-Pamlico watershed. The latest report issued on Aug. 16 comes from data collected at the river sites on Aug. 15, which marked exactly one week since North Carolina was hit with the worst impacts of Debby.

On that date, eight river sites failed the group’s quality tests which monitor levels of E. coli bacteria in freshwater.

Four sites in the Lower Neuse watershed failed, including Cowpen Landing in Vanceboro, Glenburnie Park in New Bern, the Town of Bridgton Park and Slocum Creek in Havelock. No sites in this survey area passed the test, but Sound Rivers said Maple Cypress in Grifton, Highway 11 boat ramp in Kinston and Spring Garden boat ramp near New Bern were not tested this time around.

Another four in the Tar-Pamlico watershed failed. Those include the Pamlico Plantation, Havens Gardens, the waterfront in Washington and Cotton Patch Landing on Blounts Creek. Similar to the Lower Neuse, no sites passed in this survey area, but five were not tested: Town Common and Port Terminal in Greenville, Dinah’s Landing at Goose Creek State Park, Bonner’s Point and Plum Point in Bath and Wright’s Creek in Belhaven.

The latest Swim Guide did have a spot of good news for those who enjoy sites along the Upper Neuse River — all sites that were tested passed. There were three that went untested: Smithfield Town Commons, the Riverwalk and Neuse Golf Club in Clayton and Ledge Rock on Falls Lake were not tested.

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