15a ncac 18a .3404      SWIMMING ADVISORIES FOR POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES INTO SWIMMING AREAS (effective April 1, 2021)

(a)  The Division of Marine Fisheries shall post at least one sign at a wastewater treatment plant that discharges into swimming waters, which shall stay posted until the discharge is removed. The sign for a wastewater treatment plant discharge shall state the following:

WARNING! SEWAGE TREATMENT EFFLUENT DISCHARGE SITE. SWIMMING IS NOT ADVISED IN THESE WATERS BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED RISK OF ILLNESS. OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR.

(b)  A swimming advisory shall be issued by the Division and at least one sign shall be posted at the public access to swimming waters that have been impacted by a wastewater system failure. The sign for waters impacted by a wastewater spill shall state the following:

WARNING! WASTEWATER SPILL. SWIMMING IS NOT ADVISED IN THESE WATERS BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED RISK OF ILLNESS. OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR.

(c)  A swimming advisory shall be issued by the Division and at least one sign shall be posted at a storm drain or pipe or storm water discharge that is discharging into a Tier 1 swimming area. A sign shall be placed to advise the public as they enter the area impacted by the storm drain or pipe or storm water discharge. For dry weather discharges, the sign shall state the following:

WARNING! STORM WATER DISCHARGE AREA. SWIMMING WITHIN 200 YARDS OF THIS SIGN MAY INCREASE THE RISKS OF WATERBORNE ILLNESS. OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR.

For wet weather discharges, the sign shall state the following:

WARNING! STORM WATER DISCHARGE AREA. WATERS MAY BE CONTAMINATED BY DISCHARGE FROM PIPE. SWIMMING IS NOT RECOMMENDED WITHIN 200 YARDS OF THIS SIGN DURING ACTIVE DISCHARGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 252-726-6827. OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR.

(d)  A swimming advisory shall be issued by the Division and at least two signs shall be posted at a storm drain or pipe where flood waters are being pumped into a swimming area. The signs shall state the following:

SWIMMING IS NOT RECOMMENDED BETWEEN SIGNS. WATERS MAY BE CONTAMINATED BY DISCHARGE FROM PIPE. OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR.

(e)  A swimming advisory shall be issued by the Division and at least two signs shall be posted at an area receiving dredge material on a swimming beach if the dredge material is being pumped from an area closed to shellfish harvesting. The signs shall state the following:

SWIMMING IS NOT RECOMMENDED BETWEEN SIGNS. WATERS MAY BE CONTAMINATED BY DISCHARGE FROM PIPE. OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-221.3; 143B-289.52;

Eff. January 1, 2004;

Readopted Eff. April 1, 2021.

15a ncac 18a .3404      SWIMMING ADVISORIES FOR POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES INTO SWIMMING AREAS (effective until March 31, 2021)

(a)  A wastewater treatment plant that discharges into swimming waters shall be posted by the Division with at least one sign until the discharge is removed.  The sign(s) for a wastewater treatment plant discharge shall convey the following:

ATTENTION: THESE WATERS MAY BE CONTAMINATED BY HUMAN OR ANIMAL WASTE.  SWIMMING IS NOT ADVISED IN THESE WATERS BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED RISK OF ILLNESS.  OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR.

(b)  A swimming advisory shall be issued by the Division and at least two signs shall be posted at a storm drain or storm water discharge that is actively discharging into a swimming area.  Signs shall be placed to advise the public as they enter the area impacted by the drain.   The signs for a storm drain or storm water discharge shall convey the following:

SWIMMING IS NOT RECOMMENDED BETWEEN SIGNS.  WATERS MAY BE CONTAMINATED BY DISCHARGE FROM PIPE.  OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR.

(c)  A swimming advisory shall be issued by the Division and at least two signs shall be posted at a storm drain where flood waters are being pumped into a swimming area.  The signs shall remain posted for at least 24 hours after the pumping of flood waters has ceased.  The signs shall convey the following:

SWIMMING IS NOT RECOMMENDED BETWEEN SIGNS.  WATERS MAY BE CONTAMINATED BY DISCHARGE FROM PIPE.  OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR.

(d)  A swimming advisory shall be issued by the Division and at least two signs shall be posted at an area receiving dredge material on a swimming beach when the dredge material is being pumped from an area closed to shellfish harvesting.  The signs shall convey the following:

SWIMMING IS NOT RECOMMENDED BETWEEN SIGNS.  WATERS MAY BE CONTAMINATED BY DISCHARGE FROM PIPE.  OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A-233.1;

Eff. January 1, 2004.