No-swim advisories issued for Siesta Key and two other Sarasota beaches, health officials say

Robyn Murrell
·1 min read

The Department of Health in Sarasota County has issued a no-swim advisory for three of its beaches because of high levels of bacteria found in the water.

All three beaches will remain open but health officials advise beachgoers to not swim, walk-through, or partake in any recreational activities in the water while the advisory is in place.

The following Sarasota County beaches are currently under no-swim advisories:

  • Siesta Key Beach

  • North Lido Beach

  • Lido Casino

Local health officials tested the beaches on Monday and found large amounts of enterococcus bacteria in the water.

Another round of test samples was taken from the water on Thursday and results are expected to be in by Friday afternoon.

According to a press release from the health department on Thursday, enterococcus bacteria can come from a variety of natural and human-made sources. These include pet waste, livestock, birds, land-dwelling and marine wildlife, stormwater runoff, and human sewage from failed septic systems and sewage spills.

The release said no sewage spills have been reported within one mile of the posted beaches in the past two weeks.

Sarasota County’s rapid response team surveyed the water and has determined the cause of the elevated bacteria levels is natural and likely due to a decaying wrack line.

The team observed a wrack line of decaying algae around the rocks and along the shoreline. The release said that wrack lines often act as natural bacteria reservoirs because of the birds and wildlife that feed on them.

Beachgoers can still swim at Bradenton area beaches.

Florida Department of Health Manatee County Communications Director Christopher Tittel told the Bradenton Herald on Friday that none of Manatee County beaches are under a no-swim advisory at this time.