Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Virginian-Pilot
Swimming prohibited in prominent part of Virginia Beach Oceanfront due to bacteria
By Eliza Noe, Stacy Parker, The Virginian-Pilot,
6 days ago
A sign posted by the Virginia Department of Health states that swimming and wading are prohibited near 29th Street at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Stacy Parker/The Virginian-Pilot/TNS
A swimming advisory has been issued for the Oceanfront area in Virginia Beach from 22nd Street to 37th Street after bacteria levels did not meet state water quality standards.
This includes water near the Neptune Statue and boardwalk in the popular tourist area.
During the advisory, swimming and wading are prohibited.
The Virginia Department of Health measures public waters regularly for enterococci bacteria during the warmer months. Enterococci bacteria are a group of organisms used to measure fecal contamination in recreational waters.
While they do not cause illness, the health department reports that their presence is “closely correlated to the presence of other disease-causing organisms.” People swimming or playing in waters with higher bacteria levels have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness.
Beachgoing fun was spoiled for those seeking relief from the late July heat and humidity.
Jeff Lucas, 40, of Ohio, and his family had been swimming in the ocean when lifeguards ordered everyone out of the water. His son then dug a hole in the sand and his nephew fed potato chips to a flock of seagulls.
“We paid a lot for a vacation,” he said. “We’re just trying to make the best of the day.”
Some people walked along the water’s edge while others packed up their umbrellas and lumbered back to their hotel rooms.
Peter Dubois of Quebec walked several blocks south with his grandchildren to swim where it was allowed. But he was parked on 28th Street where they returned to spend the rest of the afternoon playing in the sand.
“The water looks the same down here as it did there,” Dubois said. “If the lifeguard wasn’t here to whistle, we’d be swimming.”
Lifeguard Benjamin Bermudez, 19, fielded questions from people asking why the water was off limits.
“Our job is just to keep people out of the water to keep people healthy and safe from any potential sicknesses the bacteria may cause,” he said.
The swim advisory will be lifted once levels drop below the standard level. Signage was posted in the affected areas.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0