Swimming prohibited in prominent part of Virginia Beach Oceanfront due to bacteria

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.

Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com