2 Tampa Beaches Under Health Advisories

TAMPA, FL - Health advisories have been issued for two beaches with high levels of enterococci bacteria that can cause a variety of infections, the Hillsborough County Health Department announced Thursday. The Environmental Protection Agency recommended the advisories for Ben T. Davis and Picnic Island beaches.

Samples taken Monday were above the threshold for bacteria, according to the health department. Health department workers will resample the beaches on Monday, Nov. 20. The health department plans to lift the advisories once bacteria levels are within a satisfactory range.

The department said the levels should be considered “a potential risk to the bathing public.” The presence of the bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage, the department said.

The department conducts coastal beach water quality monitoring at nine sites once every two weeks
since August 2000, and weekly since Aug. 5, 2002 through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program.

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