No-swim advisory lifted at south Palma Sola Bay

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.

related to water quality and health of the bay, and talked about each of their possible sources: Nutrient enrichment, pathogens, physical damage and nitrogen.

“We generate nutrients through our fecal material, through passing urine. We generate nutrients by fertilizing our lawns, not picking up after our dogs,” he said. “We’re going to look

“Pathogens are things that can make you sick. We test for bacteria. We have three types of fecal indicator bacteria – e. coli, enterococci and fecal coliform, and none of those are just specific to humans, to mammals or to animals,” he said. “I can get you millions of fecal coliform bacteria from decomposing grass in a bucket of water. Our indicators are not specific to a source. So, if you find elevated levels of bacteria, it doesn’t mean you know why they’re there. “

Two different locations, one on the north side where horses are ridden and one on the south side where they are not are both sampled by laboratories, he said.

The Florida Department of Health collected more than 50 samples of south side data and 84% of them were good, Tomasko said.

“On the north side, the values are

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com

PALMA SOLA - The south Palma Sola Bay no-swim advisory issued on July 20 by the Florida Department of Health-Manatee (DOH-Manatee) has been lifted and waters are once again deemed safe for swimming.

Lifting the advisory means that bacteria counts have dropped to acceptable levels.

As a participant in the Healthy Beaches Program, DOH-Manatee collects water samples at select beaches each week. The samples are then sent

Roser

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

South Palma Sola Bay was the only area beach that was under a no-swim advisory.

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