WALTON COUNTY WEEKLY BEACH SAMPLING RESULTS – 4 Advisories Issued
WALTON COUNTY WEEKLY BEACH SAMPLING RESULTS
~Four Advisories Issued for This Sampling Period~
The Florida Department of Health in Walton County (DOH-Walton) conducts regularly scheduled saltwater beach water quality monitoring at seven sites through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program. Samples are collected from March through the end of October. The water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria (enterococci) that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals, which may cause human disease, infections, or rashes. The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage. The purpose of the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program is to determine whether Florida has significant coastal beach water quality problems and whether future beach monitoring efforts are necessary.
Site Name Enterococci Water Quality
SP-1 Miramar Beach 128 Poor
SP-3 Dune Allen Beach 172 Poor
SP-4 Blue Mountain Beach 66 Moderate
SP-5 Grayton Beach 220 Poor
SP-7 Holly Street Beach 60 Moderate
SP-8 Eastern Lake Beach 100 Poor
SP-9 Inlet Beach Access 28 Good
Water quality classifications are based upon United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recommended criteria and Florida Healthy Beaches Program Categories:
Good = 0 – 35 Enterococci CFU per 100 ml of marine
Moderate = 36 – 70 Enterococci CFU per 100 ml of marine water
Poor = 71 or greater Enterococci CFU per 100 ml of marine water
Health Advisories have been issued for the Miramar Beach Access, Dune Allen, Eastern Lake, and Grayton Beach Access based on the enterococci standard recommended by the EPA. This should be considered a potential health risk to the bathing public.
If you should have any questions, please contact DOH-Walton at (850) 892-8021 or visit the Florida Department of Health’s Beach Water Quality website www.floridahealth.gov/healthy-environments/beach-water-quality/index.html.
About the Florida Department of Health
The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.
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