BRADENTON – Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) has issued a no-swim advisory for the beach on the south side of the Palma Sola Causeway along Manatee Avenue.
“A no-swim advisory is issued when enterococci bacteria levels exceed Federal Guidelines for safe swimming. It is thought that contact with the water at the site could make beachgoers sick,” a DOH-Manatee press release said.
The advisory will be in effect until the water meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety guidelines.
No other Manatee County beaches are under the no-swim advisory.
As a participant in the Healthy Beaches Program, DOH-Manatee collects water samples at select beaches each week. The samples are then sent to labs to determine if the levels of enteric bacteria (enterococci) – which can bring human disease, infections or rashes – are acceptable based on EPA standards.
If levels are read as unacceptable, a no-swim advisory is issued; a no-swim advisory is lifted once the levels read as acceptable.
DOH-Manatee received test results from samples taken at Palma Sola South on June 19 and June 22 that show an elevated level of enterococci bacteria.
Additional information about the Healthy Beaches program can be found by calling (941) 714-7593, or by visiting the Florida Department of Health’s website at www.FloridaHealth.gov and selecting Beach Water Quality under the Environmental Health tab of the navigation bar.
