The city’s Department of Public Health on Wednesday issued swimming and wading advisories along areas of the Chesapeake Bay and the Oceanfront. Recent testing by the health department showed bacteria levels in the water exceeded the state water-quality standards at five locations in the Chesapeake Bay from the Virginia Beach city line east to Fort Story and at locations between 8th and 22nd streets at the Oceanfront. The advisories will be lifted when the tests show the bacteria are within state limits. Northeast winds, rain and high tides have pushed the water higher onto the beaches than usual, exposing it to bacteria, said Erin Sutton, environmental health manager for the health department. Bacteria called Enterococci, found in human and animal waste, showed up in the tests.
Update Note: Restrictions lifted August 26.