Broadkill Beach Swimming Advisory

DNREC has issued a swimming advisory for the Broadkill Beach area from June 13th to the 14th due to elevated bacteria levels.  This would also be for Beach Plum Island State Park since they share the same beach area and currents.   The water will be tested again today around 2 PM, and the website will be updated.  This is the section for Broadkill Beach.   The main website for water quality in Delaware is on the Recreational water section.   Just click on the area (beach) you would like to check and the tests results are listed.  This is especially good to pay attention to after heavy rains when we have been dry for a while.  That tends to create elevated levels as well.  We try to put these alerts up as much as possible.

There is a permanent caution regarding swimming in the Inland Bays. The Inland Bays suffer from nutrient pollution, coming from failing septic systems, fertilizers and other sources. Water is slow to flush out of these bay, Indian River Bay, Rehoboth Bay and Little Assawoman Bay, so pollutants linger.

Enterococcus bacteria is the culprit DNREC tests for, when these levels are elevated it is a good indicator that other harmful bacteria and viruses could be present.  Many of these will cause digestive illnesses, I don’t think I have to spell out what that refers too.  Shorebirds that eat the horseshoe crab eggs are full of this same bacteria.  They have been feasting on those eggs for well over a month now.

Fish On!!

Rich King