PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County (DOH-Pasco) has issued a water quality advisory for the following coastal beaches: Robert J. Strickland Beach, Brasher Park Beach, Robert K. Rees Park Beach, Gulf Harbors Beach, and Anclote River Park Beach as a result of a water sampling done on July 18, 2022. This advisory is based upon criteria for evaluating the presence of enterococci (intestinal bacteria) as established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Department of Health’s Florida Healthy Beaches Program monitors coastal beach water by testing marine water samples every two weeks from March through October in Pasco County. The purpose of this program is to determine whether Florida has significant coastal beach water quality problems.
DOH-Pasco analyzes coastal beach water samples for enterococci, which normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. This type of bacteria is considered a potential risk because it may cause human disease, infections, or rashes. The presence of enterococci is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage.
The EPA threshold for the presence of enterococci is no more than 70 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters of marine water. The next expected sampling date is 8/1/2022.
If you have any questions, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County Environmental Health Services division at 727-841-4425 option 3. For more information on the Florida Healthy Beaches Program, please visit the Florida Department of Health Beach Water Quality webpage.
About the Florida Department of Health
The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyPasco and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up