UPDATE: The Peninsula Health District received results from sampling completed on Thursday, Aug. 14. These results indicate that bacteria levels in the water at Yorktown Beach meet the state water quality standards for recreational waters. The swimming advisory is no longer in effect at this location.
NEWPORT NEWS — The Peninsula Health District announced it has issued a swimming advisory for South Yorktown Beach.
According to the Peninsula Health District, samples collected on Aug. 12 and again on Aug. 13 showed that bacteria levels in the water exceeded the state water quality standard.
Re-samples collected on Aug. 13 in North Yorktown Beach no longer exceed the state limits.
Signs were removed from North Yorktown Beach, and additional signs were added to South Yorktown Beach, alerting the public of the advisory.
“We encourage the public to protect their health by complying with this advisory,” said Mary Wainwright, Environmental Health Manager of the Hampton and Peninsula Health Districts. “Typically, an advisory of this nature is temporary and will be withdrawn once the bacteria levels have returned to a safe level.”
Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria routinely during the summer swimming season. People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standard have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness, according to the Peninsula Health District.
