Amid torrential rains and flooding, 21 North Carolina river sites fail fecal bacteria testing this week

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A group says more than 20 North Carolina river sites failed testing for fecal bacteria this week after several days of torrential rains and nearly a foot of rainfall in some spots.

Leading up to Friday, there were several days of flood warnings and nearly a foot of rain fell in some North Carolina areas — such as Sampson County with 11 inches. Other spots — such as Durham County — received more than 9 inches of rain.

Sound Rivers, a group that monitors more than 50 recreational sites along North Carolina rivers, says that heavy rain can lead to more pollution in rivers.

“Swim Guide results are in, and they definitely reflect the impact all this rain is having on our waterways,” the Sound Rivers group said on Friday.

Full rainfall totals for Central NC for a week ending Friday

Some flood warnings continued this weekend with one still active Saturday along the Tar River at Tarboro in Edgecombe County.

“Remember, more stormwater runoff means more nasty stuff gets washed into the water,” Sound Rivers wrote Friday after 21 North Carolina river sites failed their weekly testing.

In the previous Swim Guide report, just six sites failed.

In the Raleigh area, three sites along the Neuse River failed the week ending July 26, according to Sound Rivers.

Just east of Raleigh in Wake County, these canoe launch sites met water quality standards less than 60 percent of the time: Buffaloe Road, Milburnie Park and Poole Road.

Elevated levels of fecal bacteria in the water can bring an increased risk of gastrointestinal illness and skin infections for pets and humans, Sound Rivers says.

East of the Wake County area along the Neuse River, these seven sites also failed water quality testing:

• Maple Cypress boat ramp in Grifton

• Glenburnie Park

• Town of Bridgton Park

• Upper Broad Creek at Black Beard Sailing Club

• Lawson Creek Park in the New Bern area

• Slocum Creek boating access in Havelock

• Pierce Creek at the Sea Harbor Yacht Club in Oriental

Closer to the North Carolina coast, 11 sites failed the testing along the Tar and Pamlico rivers:

• Sunset Park on the Tar River in Rocky Mount

• Tar River Reservoir in Rocky Mount

• River Road boat ramp on the Tar River in Tarboro

• Town Common on the Tar River in Greenville

• Wildwood Park on the Tar River in Greenville

• Port Terminal on the Tar River in Greenville

• Yankee Hall Road boat ramp on the Tar River at Pactolus

• Mason’s Landing on the Pamlico River in Washington

• Havens Gardens on the Pamlico River in Washington

• Dinah’s Landing just off the Pamlico River at Goose Creek State Park

• Cotton Patch Landing on Blounts Creek just off the Pamlico River

Sound Rivers issues a report on various recreational areas of rivers in North Carolina after testing dozens of recreational sites each week throughout the summer.

The testing by the group includes enterococci bacteria in salt water.

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