Recreational Water Advisory Issued for Rehoboth Beach Due to Elevated Bacteria Levels

Rehoboth Beach, DE - A recreational water advisory has been issued for Rehoboth Beach at Rehoboth Avenue after routine sampling revealed elevated levels of fecal indicator bacteria, exceeding the recreational water quality standard.

These advisory's aim to inform the public about the high bacteria levels, allowing individuals to make informed decisions regarding recreational water activities. Extra caution is advised for people with pre-existing medical conditions or compromised immune systems, as they may be at a higher risk of illness from exposure. Health officials recommend consulting a physician to determine whether it is safe to swim under these conditions.

Authorities believe that the elevated bacteria levels may be related to recent heavy rainfall and the resulting runoff. Historically, water quality at ocean beaches often improves quickly.

An additional sample has been collected at Rehoboth Beach - Rehoboth Avenue, and the advisory will be lifted once subsequent bacterial levels meet the recreational water quality standard.

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Update 7/5/2025 at 7:45 AM

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has lifted the swim advisory for Rehoboth Avenue Beach as of the afternoon of July 4. A resampling conducted showed that enterococcus bacteria levels were well below the recreational safety standard.

The single-sample result was recorded at 81 colony-forming units (cfu) per 100 milliliters, under the threshold of 104 cfu/100mL, while the 30-day geometric mean was 30, below the standard of 35.