Tampa, FL – The Florida Department of Health in Hillsboro County has issued a public health advisory to Simmons Park Beach due to high levels of bacteria. This should be considered a potential risk for general bathers and swimming is discouraged. The samples collected exceeded the enterococcal threshold. Beach she resampled in a week.
If resampling shows that the water is within satisfactory limits, the advisory will be lifted.
About High Bacteria Level Health Advisory
A warning will be issued when the beach action value is 70.5 or higher. This is set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Florida Department of Health in Hillsboro County has monitored coastal beach water quality at nine sites through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program since August 2000 and every two weeks since August 2000. are being implemented.
Water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria (enterococci) that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals that can cause human illness, infections, or rashes. The presence of gut bacteria is a sign of faecal contamination from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage. The purpose of the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program is to determine if there are any significant water quality problems on Florida’s beaches.
Visit the Florida Department of Health’s Beach Water Quality website. To see seawater sampling results for a reporting county, click on the county name.
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About the Florida Department of Health
Nationally accredited by the Board of Public Health Accreditation, the department works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts. increase.
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