Testing the Waters: How experts check for fecal bacteria at local beaches

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — During the summer months, 10 On Your Side reports swimming advisories at local beaches when fecal bacteria levels are so high they exceed state water quality standards.

On a recent broadcast, we reported “the Hampton and Peninsula Health Districts report swimming advisories at two beaches.”

10 On Your Side just happened to be with health department staff members as they took water samples the day before.

At Hilton Park Beach in Newport News, Environmental Health Associate Sami Jo McLain-Sims took samples to determine bacteria levels.

“When you take the sample, you want to keep it (the container dipped to get the water sample) out of the sea because you don’t want sand in your sample.”

Also in the water, Environmental Health Specialist Dan Blasche. He is holding a YSI water meter .

“It tests water temperature, DO, which is dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and oxygen reduction.”

All this information was sent to a lab, which found the water sample here exceeded the state water quality standard threshold of 104 (MPN/100ml). This is a statistical estimate of the number of coliform-group organisms per unit volume of sample water, expressed as a density or population of organisms per 100 milliliter of sample water.

The Hilton Park Beach level was 181.

High levels were also found at Buckroe Beach South in Hampton, at 161.

Buckroe Beach Middle came in at 109.

All three beaches received swimming advisories.

“Any sample that comes back high, we then come back out the second day, and do a second sample to ensure the bacteria levels have come back down below that value,” said Hampton and Peninsula Health Districts Environmental Health Manager Mary Wainwright.

Test results would actually be online Friday.

10 On Your Side also followed the team to Huntington Park Beach.

McLain-Sims took a sample that had sand in it, then took another one that was clean.

“This must be all water, no sand, and it will be taken back and tested at the Newport News Water Works Lab.”

Huntington Beach was well within the state standard.

If it fails, Blasche would post a metal flip down sign that reads: “Bacteria Levels do not meet State Water Quality Standards. Swimming is not recommended until further notice.”

Before taking the water samples they always look for potential pollution sources:

• Stormwater outfalls
• Debris in water
• Litter on beach

A big pollution source is fecal matter from wildlife, geese, and ducks, which can hike bacteria to unacceptable levels.

10 On Your Side also traveled to Norfolk’s Ocean View Community Beach Park, where we met Environmental Health Specialist Linda Capp, who was taking water samples.

“The biggest concerns in terms of our public health advisories would be fecal contamination in that we are looking for sewage overflow, animal waste. We are looking for any type of organism called Enterococci,” said Marcia Snyder, Environmental Health Supervisor for Norfolk Public Health.

Enterococci is a bacteria found in the intestine. It is not a dangerous organism, but it is an indicator of fecal contamination that can lead to the swimming advisories,

“We get an advisory, we post it. We sampled that day, and that sample goes to the lab for analysis. Generally, they are within safe standards and the beaches are open. However, if the sample is above 104 (MPN/100ml) the advisory goes up. If not, we remove the advisory signs,” Snyder told us.

It should be noted the swimming advisories are just that, advisories.

“We do not close the beach, we are advising people not to go in,” Blasche said.

It’s the same story in Norfolk.

“With the advisories we are giving a personal warning making them aware. It’s an awareness they can determine if they want to go in or they don’t,” Snyder added.

If you do go swimming in spite of the swimming advisory, the most important thing you should do is take a shower after you swim.

Snyder reminded us of this important point.

“If you decide to go swimming, make sure that you don’t have any cuts or open wounds, and also keep yourself clean. Shower afterwards.”

We asked are there any reports of illness due to swimming in high bacteria waters.

The answer is no in Norfolk and no on the Peninsula.

“We’re protecting people’s health,” Wainwright said. “We’re proactively trying to let people know, give them the information that they need to make the decision on whether or not they feel it’s safe to go swimming.”

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