No-swim advisories are in effect for some of Palm Beach County’s beaches, brought on by concerns of higher bacteria levels amid the rainy season.
Such advisories take effect primarily after heavy rain overwhelms sewers and untreated wastewater, which then overflows into waterways and makes its way into the ocean. This week, four of Palm Beach County’s beaches received advisories — Dubois Park, Lake Worth Beach, South Inlet Park and Sandoway Park. On Thursday afternoon, the advisories for South Inlet and DuBois parks were lifted, while the others remained.
The Florida Department of Health typically conducts water quality testing on Mondays, and if the bacteria levels exceed a certain threshold, then an advisory is issued.
The department of health tests for the bacteria enterococci, which is found in the gut and bowels of humans and animals. The department follows the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines for enterococci levels in ocean water, which are measured per 100 milliliters of marine water.
A good level of enterococci is 0 to 35; a moderate level is 36 to 70 and a poor level is 71 or greater.
Though bacteria levels are moderated weekly, the bacteria levels may fluctuate throughout the day as the tide changes or if a storm sweeps through, said Jimmy Davis, the county’s parks and recreation aquatics director.
“What I like to tell the public is that it’s always possible for bacteria to be there,” he said.
People are still allowed to swim, he said, but they are advised not to because the exposure to the bacteria could lead to gastrointestinal illness, rash or infection.
“People with weakened immune systems, young kids that are drinking the water, those would be the major areas of concern,” he said.
When the advisory is cleared is not always known, Davis said, but additional samples are taken to more closely monitor the water’s status. The hope is that full use of the beach will pick back up within 24 to 48 hours after the initial advisory is issued.
Those looking to hit the beach this weekend and wanting to ensure it is safe to do so may consult the Florida Department of Health’s Healthy Beaches Program database.
Of the beaches the Florida Department of Health tests under Palm Beach County’s jurisdiction, 16 advisories have been issued this year so far.
With South Florida’s rainy season in full swing, the advisories may spike this summer as increased storms and rainfall bring in buckets of water to the beaches.
The bacteria in Broward County beaches remain mostly good with a few moderate levels of bacteria, making it a solid weekend to take a trip to the East Coast.
