Swimming Advisories Lifted At 3 Miami-Dade Beaches

KEY BISCAYNE, FL — The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County lifted swimming advisories at three Miami-Dade beaches on Tuesday. All of the beaches are around the Key Biscayne area.

Advisories have been lifted at Crandon North, Crandon South and Virginia Key Beach, according to health officials.

Health officials said the swimming advisories were lifted based on "satisfactory" microbial water quality test results.

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 the standard for enterococci 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 17 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.