NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The City of North Myrtle Beach has completed its first round of ocean water sampling since Hurricane Florence at 11 locations along its beach.
The threshold established by the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) for sampling results is 104. DHEC considers anything at or below that level okay for swimming.
According to a press release from the city, two of the 11 sites sampled in North Myrtle Beach offered readings of 108 and one site offered a reading of 185.
The other readings were well below the DHEC threshold.
“Even though our ocean water sampling results were good overall, in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence many rivers in North Carolina and South Carolina flooded into the ocean. Ocean water sampling does not focus on the different types of bacteria found in river water, which is brackish,” the release states.
The City says it has no way of measuring the short-term impact the river water may have on ocean water quality in the “swim zone.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, the City advises people to avoid swimming in the ocean for the next several days. The beach remains open and the decision as to whether or not to swim in the ocean is up to the individual,” according to the release.
The City will take another round of ocean water samples next week.
