State lifts precautionary swimming advisory along parts of Cape Hatteras National Seashore; National Park Service safety

PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, August 28, 2025
MOREHEAD CITY
State recreational water quality officials today lifted a precautionary advisory for ocean waters along parts of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The action was taken because bacteria levels in water samples meet state and federal standards for swimming and water play. A federal beachfront closure remains in effect.

Test results of ocean water samples collected on Aug. 26 along the Villages of Rodanthe, Buxton and Hatteras showed bacteria levels well below 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, which is the single sample standard for swimming and water play. Bacteria levels of all ocean-side samples were less than 10 Enterococci per 100 milliliters of water. Enterococci is the name for the group of bacteria used for testing.

The public should remain aware of a beachfront safety closure issued by the National Park Service on Aug. 23, due to safety concerns in the village of Buxton. For additional information on this closure please contact Mike Barber at 252-475-9032.

State lifts precautionary swimming advisory along parts of Cape Hatteras National Seashore; National Park Service safety closure remains

State officials issued a news release on Aug. 22 advising the public of health risks resulting from exposed septic drain fields and from the pumping of ocean over wash to the ocean surf following the impacts of Hurricane Erin, which caused extensive erosion and storm surge in this area.

Recreational water quality officials sample 224 sites throughout North Carolina’s coastal region, most of them on a weekly basis from April to October. Testing continues on a reduced schedule during the rest of the year, when waters are colder.

For more information on the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program or to a view a map of testing sites, visit the program’s website, and follow the program’s X feed.


Recreational Water Quality
https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/shellfish-sanitation-and-recreational-water-quality/recreational-water-quality
INTERACTIVE MAP
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
Swimming Advisory Map
https://ncdenr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3a38378983874a88aeaf6c3027292587