The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has lifted swimming warnings it had issued Tuesday for 13 locations in New Hanover County, including eight in Wrightsville Beach. The alerts were lifted after tests Wednesday showed bacteria levels in those areas had subsided.
State environmental officials issued swimming advisories for four Wrightsville Beach locations, meaning that the bacteria levels were above federal standards, including:
- Banks Channel off Waynick Boulevard in Wrightsville Beach
- Crystal Pier at Nathan Street and Lumina Drive in Wrightsville Beach
- Stone Street public access in Wrightsville Beach
- North end of Wrightsville Beach at the public access No. 2 of Lumina Drive
The department also lifted alerts for another nine locations in Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, Hanby Beach and Carolina Beach:
- Banks Channel off Waynick Boulevard in Wrightsville Beach
- Ocean pier at Nathan Street and Lumina Drive in Wrightsville Beach
- Stone Street public access in Wrightsville Beach
- North end of Wrightsville Beach at the public access #2 of Lumina Drive
- Public access at Avenue F in Kure Beach
- Public access at Avenue H in Kure Beach
- Ocean pier at Avenue K in Kure Beach
- Public access at the Hanby Beach storm drain in Hanby Beach
- Public beach access at Hemlet Avenue in Carolina Beach
The warnings were issued for elevated levels of enterococci bacteria, which though while not dangerous to humans itself,  can indicate the presence of other bacteria that is more harmful. The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program samples 204 sites in coastal waters of the state, most of them on a weekly basis from April through October.
