Floridians are being warned against offshore swimming in two locations after health authorities discovered "fecal pollution" in two bodies of water.
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County has warned residents and visitors not to swim or enter the water at Midtown Beach and Dubois Park, Jupiter. In an advisory issued on Tuesday, April 30, officials said water in the two areas has tested positive for high levels of the enterococcus bacteria.
The advisory comes as Florida's swimming season gets underway, when waters around and in the Sunshine State are typically warm enough to swim in from April through to October. In the Palm Beach area, which is a popular destination for upmarket vacationers, there are currently two other bodies of water that are rated "poor" according to Florida Health—Phil Foster Park and Latana Municipal Beach.
"The presence of enterococci bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage," the department said. It advises any prospective swimmers that entering the water will put them at an "increased risk of illness."
In both locations, water levels are recorded as "poor" according to data issued on the Florida Health website, which means authorities have measured 71 or greater enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water. Exact measurements do not appear to be available at this time.
The advisory will continue until bacteria levels are below the accepted health level, which is 0-35 enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that enterococci are bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts of humans and warm-blooded animals. Waters can become contaminated in a variety of ways: through wastewater treatment plant effluent, leaking septic systems, stormwater runoff, sewage discharged or dumped from recreational boats, and domestic animal and wildlife waste, among other reasons. The cause of the contamination is currently under investigation.
"Following a poor beach result, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) contacts local water and wastewater utilities to identify any operational malfunctions such as sewage spills that may have contributed to the poor beach water quality and reports the results of their investigation to Department of Health-Palm Beach," a spokesperson for Florida Health told Newsweek.
Infections from enterococci "are typically not considered harmful to humans, but their presence in the environment may indicate that other disease-causing agents such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa [a microorganic parasite] may also be present," the EPA explains. "Overabundance of fecal bacteria in the water can cause beach closures, swimming and boating bans and closures of fishing and shellfishing areas."
Another two beaches, Riviera Municipal Beach and Carlin Park, both have a "moderate" rating, but do not have an advisory in place at present after being lifted earlier this year.
Enterococci has been discovered in Palm Beach waters several times this year already. According to a report by WPTV, seven advisories were lifted in March this year at the following locations:
- Carlin Park
- Riviera Beach
- Phil Foster Park
- Lake Worth
- Ocean Inlet Park
- Sandoway-Delray Beach
- Spanish River
Update 5/2/24, 4:31 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Florida Health.
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