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Swim advisories lifted from some area beaches
beachclosed sign
Hurricane Irma put off water testing along the coast, so the Coastal Health District recommended not swimming at area beaches until testing restarted. - photo by Stock photo

Beach water testing resumed last week following Hurricane Irma, and some area beaches have reopened for swimming.

The Coastal Health District tests public waters for elevated levels of enterococcus, a bacteria found in warm-blooded animals. Beaches in Chatham and Glynn counties showed results that are within normal limits, and advisories for these areas have been lifted.

There are some areas that have not yet been tested either due to limited access or the standard testing schedule. The Coastal Health Districts recommends no swimming or wading in the following areas:

• North Beach at Dexter Lane on Jekyll Island. Beach access was blocked in that area so no testing could be performed.

• Skidaway Narrows (Butterbean Beach) in Chatham County.

• Contentment Bluff Sandbar and Dallas Bluff Sandbar in McIntosh County.

• Reimolds Pasture, Sea Island North, Sea Island South and Blythe Island Sandbar in Glynn County.

Fish and other seafood caught from these areas should be thoroughly washed with fresh water and thoroughly cooked before eating, as should fish or seafood caught anywhere.

For more information about beach water testing, go to www.gachd.org and click on the Environmental Health tab at the top of the page.

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