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E. coli Closes South Point Beach
17 Jul
Summary
- South Point Access Park beach closed due to high E. coli levels.
- Routine water testing revealed elevated E. coli on Thursday.
- Other park amenities remain open while beach is closed.
The beach at South Point Access Park is now closed until further notice following routine water testing that detected high levels of E. coli. Gaston County Parks, Recreation, & Tourism acted immediately upon receiving the test results on Thursday, July 17, 2026.
E. coli is naturally present in North Carolina's waters, but elevated concentrations pose an increased risk of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Pace Labs, responsible for weekly sampling, collected a new sample on Thursday, with updated results anticipated for Friday, July 18, 2026.
All other amenities at South Point Access Park are still open to the public. County officials aim to reopen the beach as soon as water conditions are deemed safe by health authorities.
