By Michael Flynn, Physical Scientist at Cape Hatteras National Seashore
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) is situated between two major water bodies – the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound – which provides a wide variety of water based recreational opportunities for locals and visitors to enjoy such as swimming, surfing, kiteboarding, kayaking, and fishing.
To protect public health, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) staff from the Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Water Quality Section (SSRWQ) administer the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program. SSRWQ staff collect and test samples from coastal recreational waters at popular swimming sites throughout the state and issue public notices when bacteriological standards for safe bodily contact are exceeded. The samples are tested for enterococcus bacteria at a State plus Food and Drug Administration accredited laboratory. Even though enterococcus bacteria will not cause illness by itself, it is used as an indicator organism because its presence is correlated with that of organisms that can cause illness and adverse health effects such as gastrointestinal issues and skin infections.
There are 20 oceanfront sampling sites that span the length of the Seashore as well as three estuarine sampling sites located at Salvo, Haulover, and Sandy Bay sound side accesses. At these locations, water samples are collected and tested on a weekly basis from April through September, then twice a month in October, and monthly from November through March. If the test results exceed the standard levels for a specific site, a Pending Swimming Advisory is issued, and the public is notified via social media release. If the resample exceeds the standard, a Swimming Advisory is issued and the public is notified by a press release as well as social media, and advisory signs are posted at the swimming site. Discharges of wastewater, stormwater and flood water into swimming areas may also prompt a Precautionary Advisory.
Caption: The NCDEQ hosts an interactive web map to assist the public in locating sites noted in written swimming advisory press releases issued by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Recreational Water Quality Program.
Caption: Color coded markers on the interactive web map represent the status of advisory associated for the particular monitoring site.
For example, precautionary advisories were issued in August warning the public against swimming near two areas along the Seashore in Rodanthe and Buxton after septic systems of threatened oceanfront structures were exposed by extensive erosion caused by Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Ernesto.
Caption: Exposed septic systems along the Buxton oceanfront. Photo Credit: National Park Service
Aid to Parks* funds provided by Outer Banks Forever were recently used to purchase sampling equipment that will be used for monitoring water quality adjacent to threatened oceanfront structures throughout the Seashore.
Water quality sampling results for all locations are posted on the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program website along with information about archived swimming advisories. Check on the status of the swimming advisories by visiting: https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/shellfish-sanitation-and-recreational-water-quality/recreational-water-quality
*This funding will be used towards sampling supplies and laboratory analyses to better understand outside impacts to soil and groundwater. This will allow National Park Service staff to better address health or environmental concerns for park visitors and to ensure clean and safe park areas.