Outer Banks beach added to list of swimming advisories in NC

COROLLA, N.C. (WNCN) — An Outer Banks area popular with surfers has been added to the list of sites state water quality officials have put under precautionary swimming advisories .

According to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, floodwaters that could contain pollutants are being pumped into the ocean in Corolla.

"Recent rains caused flooding of streets, yards, and housing in parts of Corolla and nearby communities," the department said in a release. "To minimize the flooding damage and to ensure roads are accessible for emergency vehicles, the town is pumping floodwater into the ocean near Crown Point Circle and Myrtlewood Court."

Surfers and swimmers are urged to avoid going into the ocean at Corolla Beach.

Earlier this week: Don't swim at these beaches on North Carolina's coast, officials say

Several other beaches along North Carolina's coast are also under precautionary swimming advisories due to the pumping of floodwaters following the tropical system that dumped rain across the state. The southeastern part of the state was hit especially hard, with a long stretch of coast from Wrightsville Beach in New Hanover County to Holden Beach in Brunswick County all under advisories.

NC beaches and coastal areas under swimming advisories due to floodwater pumping

Other sites in Dare County and Carteret County where the state regularly tests water quality are also under swimming advisories due to water samples exceeding state and federal standards for enterococci bacteria. Though this bacteria is not known to cause illness, the state said that "enterococci may indicate the presence of other disease-causing organisms."

In Nags Head, water samples taken from the test site at East Hollowell Street "indicated a running monthly average of 41 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water," which is above the standard of 35 enterococci per milliliters. The state said this advisory is not a beach closing and does not affect all of Nags Head, but is only for waters within 200 feet of the posted sign.

In Morehead City, two sites along Bogue Sound also had water samples that tested above state and federal standards for enterococci. The sites under advisories are the public access at Sunset Drive and the public access at 16th Street. Only the waters within 200 feet of the posted signs are affected.

The state's Recreational Water Quality Program has 221 testing sites along North Carolina's coast. Officials take samples at these sites mostly on a weekly basis from April to October and on a reduced schedule the rest of the year when the waters are colder.