No-swim advisories lifted at four Sarasota County beaches, imposed at three in Manatee

Staff Report
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The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County lifted no-swim advisories for four area beaches, including Siesta Beach, pictured above, on July 29. Health officials attributed the presence of high numbers for enterococcus bacteria to recent rains.
The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County lifted no-swim advisories for four area beaches, including Siesta Beach, pictured above, on July 29. Health officials attributed the presence of high numbers for enterococcus bacteria to recent rains.

The no-swim advisories imposed at Siesta Key Beach, Service Club Beach, Caspersen Beach and Manasota Key on Thursday, July 28 because of high bacteria counts in water samples taken earlier in the week were lifted Friday afternoon by the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County.

Health department officials received results from water quality samples taken Thursday showing a satisfactory level for enterococcus bacteria meeting both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state recreational water standards.

The no-swim advisory remained in place at Brohard Beach, Venice Fishing Pier, and Ringling Causeway/Bird Key Park.

The next water samples will be taken Monday. The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County monitors water quality weekly at 16 sites along Sarasota’s 34 miles of beaches

Meanwhile, in Manatee County, no-swim advisories were issued for three Manatee County beaches on Friday, after samples taken on July 26 showed high bacteria levels.

The three beaches are Bayfront Park North, Manatee Public Beach North and Coquina Beach North.

The no-swim advisory issued for Palma Sola South on July 25 remains in effect. Palma Sola South is along Manatee Avenue West near Palma Sola Bay.

A no-swim advisory is issued when contact with the water at the site could make beachgoers sick.

Other beaches located in Manatee County are not under advisory.

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No-swim advisories were issued Friday for four Manatee County beaches. Other county beaches are not affected. The four beaches are Bayfront Park North, Manatee Public Beach North, and Coquina Beach North. An advisory for Palma Sola South remains in place as well.
No-swim advisories were issued Friday for four Manatee County beaches. Other county beaches are not affected. The four beaches are Bayfront Park North, Manatee Public Beach North, and Coquina Beach North. An advisory for Palma Sola South remains in place as well.

Christopher Tittel, the communications director for the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County, said new water samples have been taken but the results will not be available until Monday.

The advisories will remain in place until the bacteria levels meet EPA safety guidelines.

Tittel added that the increased levels are being attributed to runoff from recent rains.

DOH-Manatee collects water samples at select beaches each week. The samples are then sent to labs to determine whether or not levels of enteric bacteria (enterococci) – which can bring human disease, infections or rashes – are acceptable based on EPA standards.

If levels are read as unacceptable, a no-swim advisory is issued; a no-swim advisory is lifted once the levels read as acceptable.

More information about the Healthy Beaches program is available by calling 941-714-7593, or by visiting the Florida Department of Health’s website at FloridaHealth.gov and selecting Beach Water Quality under the Environmental Health tab of the navigation bar.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Manatee County: 3 beaches receive no-swim advisories