5 Miami-Dade Beaches Under Swimming Advisories

KEY BISCAYNE, FL — The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County issued swimming advisories Thursday for five Miami-Dade beaches. Four of the beaches are around the Key Biscayne area and one is in Surfside.

The advisory is in effect for the following locations:

• Crandon North
• Virginia Key
• Key Biscayne Beach Club
• Cape Florida
• Surfside 93rd Street

"The advisory issued recommends not swimming at these locations at this time," health officials said. "The results of the sampling indicate water contact may pose an increased risk of illness, particularly for susceptible individuals."

Health officials said the water samples exceeded the recommended recreational water quality standard for enterococci.

"By state regulation, the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County is required to issue an advisory to inform the public in a specific area when this standard is not met."

The federal and state recommended standard for enterococci is greater than 70 colony forming units of enterococci per 100 ml in a single sample.

The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County has been sampling marine beach water quality at 16 sites weekly since August 2002, through the Florida Healthy Beaches Program. The sampling sites are selected based on the frequency and intensity of recreational water use and the proximity to pollution sources.

Water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria enterococci that normally inhabit the intestinal track of humans and animals. Exposure may cause human disease, infections, or illness. The prevalence of enteric bacteria is an indicator of fecal pollution, which may come from storm water run-off, wildlife, pets and human sewage, health officials said.

For more information, visit the Florida Healthy Beaches Program website and Select “Beach Water Quality” from environmental health topics.