Swimming Advisory Issued For 6 Miami-Dade Beaches

MIAMI BEACH, FL — The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County issued a swimming advisory Wednesday for six Miami-Dade beaches from Key Biscayne to Miami Beach and Surfside.

"Samples of beach water collected at these locations did not meet the recreational water quality standard for enterococci," according to health officials. "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." See also Miami-Dade Sewage Spill Contained But Swimming Advisory In Effect

The following areas are included in the advisory:

• Surfside 93rd Street
• North Shore 73rd Street
• Collins Park 21st Street
• South Beach (Collins Avenue and South Pointe Drive)
• Virginia Beach
• Crandon North and Crandon South

The advisory comes on the heels of a massive sewage spill in Miami-Dade County that reached 1.6 million gallons. Officials said over the weekend that the spill had been contained but that a swimming and boating advisory would remain in effect for some of the county's northernmost communities.

Health officials said that the latest advisory was issued after two consecutive water samples exceeded the Federal and State recommended standard for enterococci, which is greater than 70 colony forming units of enterococci per 100ml in a single sample.

"The results of the sampling indicate that water contact may pose an increased risk of illness, particularly for susceptible individuals," according to health officials.

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.