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Swimming advisory for two Newport News beaches has been lifted

Posted at 4:19 PM, Jun 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-09 10:17:45-04

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Peninsula Health District has lifted a swimming advisory that was issued Wednesday for Hilton Park and Huntington Park beaches.

Samples that were taken on June 6 at both beaches showed that bacteria levels in the water were higher than the State Water Quality Standards.

Samples taken June 7 have indicated that the bacteria levels now meet the standards.

Recreational waters are checked during the summer months for high levels of bacteria.

Indicator organisms like enterococci are monitored and when they are too high a sign is posted at the beach.

Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the amount of fecal contamination of recreation water. They do not cause illness but research shows when enterococci are present, other disease-causing organisms may be as well.