The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is warning the public against swimming in coastal waters, due the high rainfall and flooding.

“Waters impacted by these storms can contain elevated levels of bacteria that can make people sick,” said J.D. Potts, manager of the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program. “Floodwaters and storm-water runoff can contain pollutants such as waste from septic systems, sewer line breaks, wildlife, petroleum products and other chemicals.”

It’s a proactive move by the state, as a high amount of bacteria is often the case when there’s flooding, according to Harrison Marks, executive director of the local environmental advocacy organization Sound Rivers.

“I think that what they’ve issues is appropriate — to have that sort of cautionary move. I wouldn’t get in the water right now,” Marks said.

Marks pointed out that there are several animal feeding operations along the Tar River, all the way to Rocky Mount, and runoff from those facilities has been making its way down the river over the past two weeks of near-continual rain.

“As you know, anything upstream ends up downstream,” Marks said.

A press release from NCDEQ said that while state officials do not have confirmation of elevated bacteria in all coastal waters, samples taken last week from Carteret, Onslow, Pender and New Hanover counties indicated the problem was widespread then. Since, additional rain has fallen across the state, likely exacerbating the issue.

The impacts are likely so widespread that signs may not be posted in all areas, but the public should avoid swimming in coastal waters until bacteriological testing indicates bacteria levels fall within the state’s and the Environmental Protection Agency’s standards, the press release said.

The state tests 240 sites at ocean and sound beaches weekly from April to October. While water is tested for enterococci — found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals — the bacteria does not cause illness, however its presence does indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms.

The precautionary advisory will be lifted in part or in whole as test results become available.