Health Department lifts Kiptopeke Swimming Advisory

The Northampton County Health Department has lifted the Swimming Advisory that had been in place at Kiptopeke State Park Beach. Re-testing conducted by the Virginia Department of Health on July 21, 2021 showed that bacteria levels in the water once again meet the State Water Quality Standards.

Recreational waters are monitored for bacteria using indicator organisms such as enterococci, the indicator of choice for estuarine and marine waters. “The coastal waters of Virginia are generally very clean, and we test them frequently to confirm this,” said Jon Richardson, Environmental Health Manager. “On the occasions when waters do fail to meet the standards, we need to protect public health by letting residents and visitors know.”

Signs previously alerting the public of the swimming advisory at the Kiptopeke State Park Beach are being removed. Environmental health officials sample public beaches weekly during the swimming season from late May through early September.

Enterococci are a group of organisms used to determine the extent of fecal contamination of recreational waters. While they do not cause illness, scientific studies indicate that their presence is closely correlated to the presence of other disease-causing organisms. People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standard have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness.