Swim Report Program

Our Swim Report program allows us to monitor popular swimming and recreation access points for E.coli bacteria. Though North Carolina does not have an E.coli standard for water quality and instead uses fecal bacteria standards, the EPA has set a beach action value of no more than 200 MPN for E.coli in recreational waters in order to protect human health. For our Swim Report program we use a three-tier system based on a 126 MPN threshold based on a proposed standard by NCDEQ for swimming (primary recreation) and a 886 MPN threshold for secondary recreation like kayaking. Level greater than 886 MPN are not considered safe for recreation.

We monitor 12 locations throughout the Haw River watershed every week during the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day).

There are many ways to get these results:

  • We publish results each Friday here on our website, in our e-newsletter, and on Facebook and Instagram

Photo: Haw River Canoe and Kayak

Ready to learn more? Reach out to Kim: kim@hawriver.org.

Thanks for supporting the mission of Haw River Assembly!

Photo: Friends of the Lower Haw Tubing on the Haw

The Importance of HRA’s Swim Report

Every person should be able to swim at any beach on any day of the summer and never worry about health risks. Without current, reliable data about water quality, people and animals are vulnerable to illness and infection. When water isn’t safe to touch, people withdraw from it. When the connection between us and our water fades, so does our instinct to protect it. HRA’s Swim Report helps to prevent waterborne illnesses simply by making it easy for people to know when their water is contaminated and when it is clean for swimming. This program is helping to identify sources of water pollution so that together we can act to restore and maintain swimmable, drinkable, fishable waters.

Why E-coli Testing?
Bacteria contamination in water is a threat to our health. Since 1986, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has urged states to adopt E. coli bacteria (Escherichia coli) standards to preserve recreational water quality and better protect public health. North Carolina is one of only a handful of states that has failed to do so. It’s past time for the state to adopt the E. coli standard for bacteria in freshwaters. Read the Waterkeepers Carolina report “Is It Safe To Swim?”

Finding the Best Beaches

Our Swim Report offers water quality information for a wide variety of beaches, ranging from city parks to remote lakes ideal for camping. To find the beach that’s just right for you, check out our Swim Report dashboard.

Give us your feedback! Email us!

Pollution Reporting

Bacteria isn’t the only pollution that can ruin your trip to the beach. If you are concerned about water quality, litter, minor spills, or other problems, let us know using the pollution reporting tool our website at the top of the page. This will alert our water quality program manager to environmental problems. (In an emergency, always notify the appropriate authority).