3 St. Pete Beaches Close Temporarily

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The city of St. Petersburg has announced that three of its beaches are closed to the public following water quality tests that came back with poor results. The water at all three beaches displayed unacceptable ranges of the enteric bacteria, the city said.

The affected beaches are Northshore, Maximo and Lassing Park, according to a Thursday evening email from the city. The beaches will remain off limits until water samples show acceptable bacterial levels. It is unclear when retesting will take place.

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The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County on Thursday also issued an advisory for Fort De Soto Park’s North Beach after water samples tested above acceptable for enteric bacteria.

“This area should be considered a potential health risk to swimmers,” the health department wrote in a Thursday evening email to media.

Enteric bacteria are normally found within the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals. Enterococci bacteria is known to cause disease, infections and rashes in humans. When water samples test high for enterococci, the results indicate “fecal pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets, wildlife and sewage,” the health department noted.

Fort De Soto’s water will be tested again on June 12.

For more information on the water quality at beaches throughout the state, visit the Florida Department of Health online. To find out more about St. Petersburg’s water testing program and the dangers of enterococci bacterial, visit the city’s website.

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