The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program began testing coastal waters in 1997. Its mission is to protect 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.

The program monitors 240 swimming sites, which are located on ocean beaches, sounds and coastal rivers. All ocean beaches and high-use sound-side beaches are tested weekly from April through September; lower-use beaches are tested twice a month. All sites are tested twice a month in October and monthly from November through March. In most cases swimming advisories will not be issued during the non-swimming season from Nov. 1 to March 31.

The program is implemented in full compliance with the federal BEACH Act and guided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The indicator organism used to test recreational waters is called enterococcus, which is found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. While it may not cause illness itself, its presence is correlated with pathogenic organisms that can cause illness. Water quality sampling results for all locations are posted on this site along with information about archived swimming advisories.

If you have any questions about the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program or the information listed on this site, please contact JD Potts or Erin Bryan-Millush at (252) 726-6827.

Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Water Quality Section
Marine Fisheries Building
Post Office Box 769
Morehead City, N.C. 28557-0769
Fax: (252) 726-8475