By Tim Mastro

REHOBOTH BEACH — The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has lifted a recreational water advisory for the Rehoboth Avenue segment of the beach, which covers Baltimore Avenue to Stockley Street.

The department will leave the Virginia Avenue water advisory, which covers Pennsylvania to Baltimore, in effect through Friday. It was originally issued on Wednesday due to high enterococcus levels — the presence or potentially harmful bacteria in the water that most likely originate from wildlife sources, while recent rainfall and resulting stormwater also are likely factors.

The guarded sections of the beach are limited due to staffing, according to the City of Rehoboth. The beach is guarded from Olive Avenue to Brooklyn Avenue on Thursday.

Due to heavy surf and rip current conditions, access to the ocean is currently limited to knee/ankle levels.