VIRGINIA BEACH
Swimming and wading in the Chesapeake Bay were banned Wednesday along a stretch of beaches because of high levels of bacteria.
The Virginia Beach Health Department posted signs Wednesday, warning people against entering the Bay east of the Lesner Bridge, from Starfish Road to Wake Forest Street, an area containing hotels, condominiums and homes.
Water samples showed bacteria levels more than twice the acceptable standard, said Dan Horne, the department's environmental health supervisor.
Another round of samples was taken Wednesday, with results expected today. If clean, beaches could be reopened immediately, Horne said.
It was the second swimming advisory issued in that area of the Bay this summer. The first came a month ago at Chick's Beach, just west of the Lesner Bridge. That closure lasted two days, according to state records.
Horne and others could not say what caused the closures Wednesday or last month, noting that the possibilities abound - pet wastes, a sewage leak, stormwater runoff.
Pinpointing a cause often proves difficult, if not impossible, the officials said, citing recent changes in the state health standard and myriad possible sources of bacteria. In samples, the state now looks for the presence of Enterococcus, an organism that can determine fecal bacteria contamination. Such contamination is linked to human or animal waste and can carry diseases.
People swimming in waters with above-normal bacteria counts have a higher risk of developing gastrointestinal illnesses, as well as skin, eye and respiratory infections.
The state monitors bacteria levels at 44 beaches along the Bay and Atlantic Ocean from May to September. So far this year, six swimming advisories have been issued, including the one Wednesday in an area the state calls Sea Gate.
Last year, the department issued 10 warnings, including two in Virginia Beach and one at Sea Gate, records show. In 2007, 14 advisories were posted, none at Sea Gate but three in Virginia Beach. Most were along the ocean and away from the Bay, records indicate.
Scott Harper, (757) 446-2340, scott.harper@pilotonline.com
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water
Cant understand why the reason for the contaminated water has not been discovered and resolved. I do know that the disregard by the dog owners and fisherman is ridiculous. Coincidence that these groups are not swimming in the waters? For starters can we keep the dogs off the beach in the summer as they do at the Oceanfront.
It's the raw chicken...
I frequently train for races along this stretch of the bay. Lately it has been absolutely overrun with people that don't appear to be locals hooking huge raw chicken parts to pieces of string and leaving them on the sand/shoreline to attract crabs. It's disgusting! What's worse is that when they are done collecting their crabs they just leave the raw chicken ALL over the beach and in the water. Less than a week ago I counted 21 pieces of chicken and string left laying out in the hot sun. I don't think the increased bacteria is a coincidence. I guarantee you these people don't have fishing licenses. Get the game warden out there and put a stop to this!
One block up is safe?
Explain to me how I can take a few steps past Starfish Road and be safe? Or go in the other direction and go past Wake Forest toward First Landing Beach and be fine to swim?
Stormwater
There is a stormwater outflow pipe right there---you can see it jut out under the dune crossover. The contamination is from rainwater infused from yard fertilizer, dog poop, geese poop, motor oil, etc. The City needs to connect those stormwater outflows to the sewer system--they run all along the bay and ocean front.
At least we have a pool
Well, at least we can all go over to Cavalier Manner to swim in the $30,000.00 + a month pool. Bring your own towel and firearm, you'll need 'em.
Duh
Its no secret that commercial ships dump their waste on the way into the port right there, also while they are moored off the coast. The secret is why no one does anything about it.
And you all say its dogs.
25 men x 10 days x 2-3 events per day being discharged from a ship > Dog Poop
Interesting
It's interesting how they test the water but never investigate where it came from. They may, in fact, be investigating but we never seem to hear the results.
Why?
Are the results being suppressed?
Are those who are responsible to investigate being hindered or prevented?
The typical answer of it being natural doesn't seem to jibe with the very localized area affected.
It's obviously not good
But this happened last summer, too. It's not new. It happens. It doesn't mean it's the end of the world. It just means you need to wait to go swimming there, that's all.
Thanks for the warning!
Good grief. What about all the tourist that were just there like myself? If I hadn't been keeping up with local information due to moving back to the area soon I wouldn't even know. Now what?
Clean up after you
Clean up after you dogs!
Much of the fecal matter comes from you dogs waste. Pick up you dogs litter when you walk it and scope the poop at your home frequently. See a neighbor not picking up after their dog, challenge them.
Quality of life vs. health risk
Dog poop on the beach is an unsitely nuisance and probably contributes a thimble full of annoyance to the larger problem. Don't be lulled into thinking the answer is that simple, although your suggestion that people clean up after their pets is a valid one.
One day I'll learn to add
One day I'll learn to add the "r" in your.
Bay Bacteria
I live on the Bay in the area that has been temporarily banned. I am extremely appreciative the warnigs have been issued. My whole family enjoys the Bay all summer and in to the fall, especially the gorgeous sunsets. One of my adult daughters has a fragile immune system due to a careless driver in this area. She had her spleen and a kidney removed. It is especially with circumstances like the bacteria problem that we pay closer attention to her health issues, this could be deadly to a lot of unsuspecting individuals. It is not bad enough that walking, jogging, biking and a fun night out are very threatning to our lives in this beautiful resort city, now we can't ejoy our beach. I am a true animal lover, but I have complained in the past of the dogs running free on the beach, especially after I was attacked by one while I was laying on the beach. The owner acted as though I was in the wrong. Although, this problem might also stem from our overflowing sewage industries and street runoff, I suggest a private doggie beach like the doggie parks.
The Great Chesapeake Bay
How sad to see that swimming and wading are prohibited along our beautiful Bay! It's probably the usual suspect-stormwater, but maybe not. Maybe we'll never know. For anyone who cares to know, I just checked the beach and there are many swimmers in the water. The signs aren't on the beach, they are on the street! Word to the City: many of us don't use the street to get to the beach.
Gee, I wonder if it could be
caused by the idiots who walk their dogs on the beach and throw the poop in the water. I experienced this first hand last summer while swimming at chix beach with my 3 y/o daughter. Some nut scooped up his dogs droppings and flung it right into the water. NICE! Last time I went to that beach.
paranoid
ever think maybe folks are just being paranoid about this stuff? maybe the "health officials" are trying to protect themselves from the sue-happies with all this testing and banning. i swam here plenty and probably in worse areas (if tested to the same degree) and even let my children do the same. never had a problem. of course we don't drink the water and we practice good personal hygeine so maybe that's the difference. enjoy the waters and then take a bath. yo'ull be fine. and if you have open wounds you need to be nursing them not frolicking in the bay. it's simple stuff people.
Nice Spin
I have to question your judgment.
The Bay is DEAD and killing people. What do you not understand?
You would even let your children swim in the pollution?
Clueless...and possibly DANGEROUS.
Time to take a long look in the mirror.
I agree - Paranoia
If you found out Wizard how, many locals have been swimming in the Bay for DECADES without showing any sign of ill health, you'd see it is more a case of preventing some person for coming up with the slightest of excuses to sue the city.
Despite what you say, the Bay isn't dead. Suffering yes, but definitely NOT dead. Just ask all the people that sport fish in it - and eat what they catch too. They've been doing that for DECADES too, Wizard, and they're not dying either. I've been swimming in the Bay nearly two decades too, and I'm certainly not dying.
It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is for some folks to get paranoid about some things that when you look into the details - like the number of people who have gotten sick from swimming in the Bay or eating fish caught there - you quickly find out there's no reason at all for the Chicken Little - like worries.
Beach Closures
Let's see, area closed is mostly areas that locals use. Close it, no big loss, we don't care about the ones that live around here. Close the resort area--forget about it. Too big of a chance to loose tourists and money. They must have stuck a sign in the sand telling the bacteria not to cross the line.
Nobody Cares
Our waters are DEADLY.
But you don't care.
Only when it gets to a point where the Chamber is worried about tourism (because of the bad press), or someone from outside HR forces action will anyone even recognize this horrible situation...and do something about it.
Yes, it will cost money. I'd rather pay to clean up the bay than pay for grandiose public-private projects.
Leaders are salivating over Choo-Choo trains and making big developments bigger. They don't have time to worry about the world we live in and kill.
WE are starting the sixth mass extinction. For those uninformed:
HOLOCENE EXTINCTION EVENT