The Virginian-Pilot
©
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.