As you head out of town for the Fourth of July holiday weekend and other summer vacations, be ware of beach advisories that are in place in many popular vacation spots.
Areas where swimming advisories have been issued include: Fort Walton (FL), Holly Beach (LA), Gulfport Harbor Beach (MS)
Waters are tested for enterococci, an enteric bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The presence of enteric bacteria can be an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage. If they are present in high concentrations in recreational waters and are ingested while swimming or enter the skin through a cut or sore, they may cause human disease, infections or rashes.
This testing was recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a saltwater quality indicator. According to studies conducted by the EPA, enterococci have a greater correlation with swimming-associated gastrointestinal illness in both marine and fresh waters than other bacterial indicator organisms, and are less likely to “die off” in saltwater. If an enterococci result were observed to exceed 70 colony forming units per 100 milliliters of beach water sampled and a resampling result also exceeds this value, then an “Advisory” would be issued for the sampling site.
Click below to see advisories:
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