Beach Advisories Issued for St. Simons Island & Jekyll Island Beaches

The Glynn County Health Department has issued the following beach water advisories:

• St. Simons Island
  • North Beach at Goulds Inlet (Fifteenth Street to Tenth Street)
  • South Beach at the Lighthouse (Ninth Street to the Pier)
• Jekyll Island
  • Driftwood Beach (Beach KM Marker 1 to Tallu Fish Lane)
  • South Dunes Picnic Area Beach (Corsair Beach Park to South Water Tower)

The Department of Natural Resources – Coastal Resources Division tests water samples on St. Simons and Jekyll Islands every week throughout the year.

The tests screen for enterococcus (pronounced: en·ter·o·coc·cus) bacteria, which are found in humans and some wildlife.

The testing program is not related to the capsized motor vehicle carrier in St. Simons Sound. When a beach is under advisory, it means the level of bacteria found in the water is above the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended standards.

This does NOT mean the beach is closed.These beach water advisories alert the public of a possible risk of illness associated with water contact in the advisory areas.

The Health Department recommends you do not swim or wade in
the water in the areas under advisory. 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 from any waters..