18 swim sites in eastern North Carolina fail water quality standard tests

WASHINGTON, N.C. (WNCT) — More than a dozen swim sites across eastern North Carolina have failed Swim Guide tests this week after recent periods of heavy rains.

Sites that failed to meet the water quality standards include:

• Maple Cypress Boat Ramp in Grifton
• Glenburnie Park (New Bern)
• Town of Bridgeton Park
• Upper Broad Creek at Blackbeard Sailing Club
• Lawson Creek Park (New Bern)
• Slocum Creek Boating Access (Havelock)
• Pierce Creek at the Sea Harbour Yacht Club (Oriental)
• Sunset Park
• Tar River Reservoir in Rocky Mount
• River Road Boat Ramp (Tarboro)
• Town Common (Greenville)
• Wildwood Park (Greenville)
• Port Terminal (Greenville)
• Yankee Hall Road Boat Ramp (Pactolus)
• Mason’s Landing and Havens Gardens (Washington)
• Dinah’s Landing at Goose Creek State Park
• Cotton Patch Landing on Blounts Creek

“This is a direct result of the enormous amount of rain we’ve had over the last week or so,” said Sound Rivers’ Program Director Clay Barber said. “These failures can largely be attributed to more stormwater runoff washing more bacteria in the waterways, but in some cases, the cause could be the amount of rain we’ve had overwhelming septic systems or sewer infrastructure.”

A Swim Guide fail means elevated levels of fecal bacteria in the water. This could mean an increased risk of gastrointestinal illness and skin infections for pets and humans alike.

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