Swimming Advisory Lifted for First Street Beach

MIAMI BEACH, FL — The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County lifted its swimming advisory for the First Street Beach on Saturday.

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Health officials had announced the ban on Thursday after samples of beach water collected at First Street in the most southern portion of Miami Beach failed to meet the recreational water quality standard for enterococci.

Health officials are required by state regulations to issue an advisory when this standard is not met.

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Miami Beach officials had said that there were not any wastewater overflows or other incidents involving the city system or the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer system for the central and north districts.

The advisory came during the all-important spring break season when beaches tend to be the most crowded.

In the cases of the First Street beach, health officials had said that the advisory was issued after two consecutive water samples exceeded the federal and state recommended standard for enterococci, which is greater than 70 colony forming units of enterococci per 100 ml in a single sample.

The advisory recommended not swimming at the First Street location.

The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County has been sampling marine beach water quality at 17 sites weekly since August 2002, through the Florida Healthy Beaches Program. The sampling sites are selected based on the frequency and intensity of recreational water use and the proximity to pollution sources.

Water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria enterococci that normally inhabit the intestinal track of humans and animals. Exposure may cause human disease, infections, or illness. The prevalence of enteric bacteria is an indicator of fecal pollution, which may come from storm water run-off, wildlife, pets and human sewage, health officials said.

For more information, visit the Florida Healthy Beaches Program website and Select “Beach Water Quality” from environmental health topics.

Photo of beach goers courtesy of Miami Beach Fire Department