Swimming Advisories Lifted On 2 Miami Area Beaches

MIAMI BEACH, FL — The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County lifted separate swimming advisories for part of Miami Beach and Surfside on Tuesday. The Miami Beach advisory covered the Collins Park area at 21 Street and Collins Avenue. The Surfside warning covered 93rd Street and Collins Avenue.

Both swimming advisories were lifted on Tuesday afternoon following a "satisfactory microbial water quality test result," according to the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County.

Health officials had said that the advisories were issued after two consecutive water samples at each location exceeded the federal and state recommended standard for enterococci, which is greater than 70 colony forming units of enterococci per 100ml in a single sample.

Officials lifted earlier swimming advisories for three beaches in Key Biscayne: Crandon North, Crandon South, and Key Biscayne Beach Club on Oct. 10.

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 courtesy Miami Beach Fire Department