No-swimming warnings imposed at Siesta Key Beach, Service Club Beach, Caspersen Beach and Manasota Key on Thursday, July 28 due to high bacteria counts in water samples taken earlier in the week were lifted Friday after noon by the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota. County.
Health Department officials received results from water quality samples taken Thursday showing a satisfactory level for enterococci bacteria that met both U.S. Environmental and Water Protection Agency standards. state recreation.
The no swimming advisory remained in place at Brohard Beach, Venice Fishing Pier and Ringling Causeway/Bird Key Park.
The next water samples will be taken on Monday. Sarasota County’s Florida Department of Health monitors water quality weekly at 16 sites along Sarasota’s 34 miles of beaches
Meanwhile, in Manatee County, no-swimming advisories were issued Friday for three Manatee County beaches, after samples taken on July 26 showed high levels of bacteria.
The three beaches are Bayfront Park North, Manatee Public Beach North, and Coquina Beach North.
The no swimming notice issued for Palma Sola Sud on July 25 remains in effect. Palma Sola South is along Manatee Avenue West near Palma Sola Bay.
A no-swimming notice is issued when contact with water on the site could make swimmers ill.
Other beaches located in Manatee County are not under notice.
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Christopher Tittle, director of communications for the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County, said new water samples have been taken but results won’t be available until Monday.
The advisories will remain in place until bacteria levels meet EPA safety guidelines.
Tittle added that the rise in levels is attributed to runoff from recent rains.
DOH-Manatee collects water samples weekly at select beaches. The samples are then sent to labs to determine if the levels of enteric bacteria (enterococci) — which can cause human illness, infections, or rashes — are acceptable by EPA standards.
If the levels are read as unacceptable, a no swimming advisory is issued; a no-swimming advisory is lifted once levels are found to be acceptable.
For more information about the Healthy Beaches program, call 941-714-7593 or visit the Florida Department of Health website at https://www.FloridaHealth.gov and selecting Beach Water Quality under the Environmental Health tab of the navigation bar.
