Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Water Quality Section N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Department of Environment and Natural Resources

N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program Mission “To protect the public health by monitoring the quality of North Carolina’s Coastal recreational waters and notifying the public when bacteriological standards for safe bodily contact are exceeded.”

Recreational Water Quality Program Started in 1997 in response to public concern regarding coastal swimming waters. NRDC labeled NC a “Beach Bum” state Became mandated by the E.P.A. in October BEACH Act requires that all coastal states monitor swimming waters. Monitors coastal recreational waters including ocean beaches, sounds, bays and estuarine rivers.

Tier Based Monitoring Categorized based on usage during the swimming season – April 1 through October 31 Tier I: Daily Use Tier II: Average Use (3 Days / Week) Tier III: Average Use (4 Days / Month) All these areas are monitored on a reduced schedule during the off season – Nov 1 through Mar 31 Combined 241 swimming areas that are monitored

Why are we monitoring? Bacterial and viral gastroenteritisBacterial and viral gastroenteritis Salmonella, E.coli, and HepatitisSalmonella, E.coli, Norovirus and Hepatitis Parasitic protozoansParasitic protozoans Giardia and CryptosporidiumGiardia and Cryptosporidium Flu-like symptoms Flu-like symptoms Abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, nauseaAbdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea Ear, nose, throat and skin infections Ear, nose, throat and skin infections Salmonella Cryptosporidium Skin Rash

What are we monitoring for? Indicator of fecal contaminationIndicator of fecal contamination Are found in the gut of all warm blooded animalsAre found in the gut of all warm blooded animals Do not cause illness but are associated with pathogenic organismsDo not cause illness but are associated with pathogenic organisms Mandated by EPAMandated by EPA Bacteria More specifically Enterococci Enterococci

Two Primary Types of Public Notifications Bacteriological Monitoring notifications can be issued by: –Swimming Advisories – include an issued press release and a sign being posted on the beach warning swimmers of potential risk. OR –Swimming Alerts – include an issued press release with NO sign

Action Levels for Posting Swimming Advisories Tier I –Exceeds 500 enterococci per 100 ml upon initial sample –Geometric Mean exceeds 35 /100 ml for 5 samples collected within 30 days. –Triplicate Sites – 2 out of the 3 samples collected exceed 104 enterococci per 100 ml. Tier II –Exceeds 500 enterococci per 100 ml upon initial sample Tier III

Swimming Alerts Pending Advisories based upon immediate resample results –Typically last for 24 hours Tier I – exceeds 104 enterococci per 100 ml, but is less than 500. If resample is >104 than Alert becomes Advisory. Tier II – exceeds 276 enterococci per 100 ml, but is less than 500. if resample is >276 than Alert becomes Advisory.

Precautionary Advisories Supporting data not required

Wet Weather Storm Drains

Discharging of Flood Waters onto Beach

Dredge Disposal From Closed Shellfish Waters Being Placed on Beaches

Waste Water Collection System Failures Sewer Lines Manholes Lift Station

Precautionary Blanket Advisories Natural Disasters Hurricanes Nor-Easters Extreme rain events

Process of Public Notification  First step is to notify local town managers and county Health Director  Second step is to prepare & finalize press release  Finally, notification is posted on program webpage and –All data is updated on webpage daily

Potential Animal Sources to Local Recreational Swimming Areas

Center for Watershed Protection

Potential Human Sources to Local Recreational Swimming Areas

Overview of Swimming Notification on Topsail Beach Site S25A Serenity Point – Public access #S-1 at end of Shoreline Dr. (sound-side station) »2014 Alerts Issued July 15 and July 29 »2012 Alert May 8 »2011 Under Advisory for 7 days from Sept 7 to Oct 5 (exceeded the monthly logarithmic average) »2010 Alert September 29 »2009 Alert June 25

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Erin Bryan-Millush, Environmental Specialist