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Bahia - Ben T Davis - Cypress Point Beach - Health Advisory Issued Jun 11, 2019

By Kevin Watler

June 11, 2019

Beach Advisory

Tampa, Fla. – A Health Advisory has been issued for Bahia, BT Davis, and Cypress Point beaches based on the criteria for enterococci bacteria recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

This should be considered a potential risk to the bathing public. Samples taken Wednesday were above threshold for enterococci bacteria. The beach will be re-sampled, Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

When re-sampling indicates that the water is within the satisfactory range, the advisory will be lifted.

Water quality categorizations are based on the EPA's standard for enterococci is that beaches with a beach action value of 70.5 or higher are given an advisory.

Last week’s advisory for Cypress Point Beach has been rescinded.

The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County has been conducting coastal beach water quality monitoring at nine sites once every two weeks since August 2000, and weekly since August 5, 2002 through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program. The water samples are being analyzed for enteric bacteria (enterococci) that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals, which may cause human disease, infections, or rashes. The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage. The purpose of the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program is to determine whether Florida has significant coastal beach water quality problems.

Please visit the Florida Department of Health's Beach Water Quality website at https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/beach-water-quality/index.html. To review the beach water sampling results for reporting counties, click on a county name.

About the Florida Department of Health
The department 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 @DOHHillsborough and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.