Swimming Advisory Lifted For 6 Miami-Dade Beaches But Not All

MIAMI BEACH, FL — The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County lifted a swimming advisory Friday for six Miami-Dade beaches from Key Biscayne to Miami Beach and Surfside but a separate advisory remains in effect for some northern areas of the county affected by last week's massive sewage spill.

"Based on satisfactory microbial water quality test result, the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County is lifting the swimming advisory that was issued on Aug. 21, 2019," health officials said. See also Miami-Dade Sewage Spill Contained But Swimming Advisory In Effect

The following areas are no longer under a swimming 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 came on the heels of the massive sewage spill in Miami-Dade County that reached 1.6 million gallons as of last weekend. Officials said the spill has been contained but that a swimming and boating advisory would remain in effect for some of the county's northernmost communities.

"A significant portion of the No Contact with Water Precautionary Advisory boundaries has been removed after water quality samples have come back compliant," according to Miami-Dade officials. "The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department's emergency contractor was able to install the temporary bypass sewer line Tuesday morning after containing the spill early Saturday morning. The department continues to work on a permanent repair to the damaged portion of the pipe located at 2500 NE 163 St."

County officials said the swimming and boating advisory will remains in effect for the area of Maule Lake and the Oleta River system where it empties into the Intracoastal as well as Greynolds Park and Bal Harbour Beach.

"People are asked to continue to avoid recreational water activities including swimming, fishing and boating within this area," county officials said.

Health officials said that the advisory for the six Miami-Dade beaches 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 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.