GOLDSBORO, NC — Old Waynesborough State Park in Goldsboro passed this week’s Swim Guide recreational water-quality testing as Sound Rivers launched its 2026 summer monitoring season across the lower Neuse River basin.
While most testing sites across the region received passing marks, officials reported that Slocum Creek in Havelock failed to meet recreational water-quality standards after elevated levels of fecal bacteria were detected.
For Goldsboro residents planning summer outings along local waterways, the passing results at Old Waynesborough State Park provide encouraging news heading into Memorial Day weekend and the start of peak recreation season.
“The good news is, the rest of the sites on the lower Neuse passed the Swim Guide test,” said Clay Barber, program director for Sound Rivers.
Barber said Slocum Creek’s elevated bacteria levels may be tied to ongoing environmental concerns that have affected the area in previous years, including failing septic systems and stormwater runoff.
A “Swim Guide fail” indicates higher levels of fecal bacteria, which can increase the risk of gastrointestinal illness and skin infections for both people and pets using the water.
Sound Rivers conducts weekly testing at 17 locations throughout the lower Neuse watershed, including Old Waynesborough State Park in Goldsboro, boating access areas in Kinston and Grifton, several New Bern-area sites and locations in Oriental and Havelock.
The Swim Guide program runs annually from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend and is designed to keep the public informed about recreational water conditions throughout eastern North Carolina.
Residents can view weekly water-quality results through Sound Rivers’ Swim Guide program or receive updates by texting “Rivers” to 50155.
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