SeaYoda
Contributor
I hope we don't see any of those brown cigar shaped fish
No swimming: High levels of fecal bacteria found in East Pass
May 17, 2012 7:46 PM
JUSTIN HEINZE/ Daily News
DESTIN State health officials have issued an advisory to stay out of East Passbecause of unacceptable bacteria counts.
The latest water samples taken from the pass have shown unusually highlevels of fecal coliform bacteria, found in human and animal waste. That hasprompted the Florida Department of Health to issue a warning not to swim there.
Officials use fecal coliform as an indicator bacteria, meaning that itspresence is used to predict the likelihood of other dangerous bacteria.According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys website, such bacteriacan include typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis A, and cholera.
Theres a good shot (the high levels) were from storm water runoff, saidJulie Terrell, director of the Choctawatchee Basin Alliance. But you cant besure with just one test. Youd have to wait for more testing to go on.
During heavy rains such as the area has received recently, waste on theground can be washed into the water. Less frequently, sewers and septic tankscan overflow.
The Okaloosa County Health Department conducts weekly tests at 12 saltwaterbeaches. The tests conducted May 14 revealed that East Passhad 500 colonies of fecal coliform bacteria per 100-milliliter sample. Thewater is deemed poor if the colony count exceeds 399.
A poor rating for fecal coliform in East Passlast occurred in October. Only four advisories were released for that reason inall of 2011.
Such advisories are not unusual in OkaloosaCounty, but usually are issued forwaters farther inland from the Gulf of Mexico.For example, beaches at Liza Jackson Park in Fort Walton Beach, Lincoln Park in Valparaiso and RockyBayou State Park near Niceville frequently have bacteria levels comparableto what was recorded at East Pass on Monday.
East Pass also tested poor forenterococci, both in the latest sampling and a sampling average of the pastfive weeks. Enterococci specifically indicate the likelihood of bacteriacausing gastrointestinal illness.
The consistently high presence over the past five weeks could indicate acause other than runoff, but that cannot be known without additional testing.
That is unlikely because of the lack of a certified water quality lab inthe immediate area and the lack of funds to start one, Terrell said. Okaloosa County does tests for public safetypurposes, but routing out the deeper cause requires a more exhaustive analysis.
Those who brave East Pass with fecal coliformat its present levels face gastrointestinal illness, skin or respiratoryinfections, eye irritations and rashes.
Destin East Pass Under Health Advisory;Most Beach-Goers Unaware
Destin-Every single person we talked to Friday was unaware of the poor waterconditions in the East Pass. They were shockedand disgusted when they found out what they were swimming in.
Posted: 9:10 PM May 18, 2012
Reporter: Meagan O'Halloran
Some local swimmers received a shock Friday when they found outthey were swimming in contaminated water. The Health Department has issued anadvisory for East Pass in Destin due tohigh levels of fecal bacteria but many didn't know until she showed up with ourcameras.
Every single person we talked to Friday was unaware of the poorwater conditions in the East Pass. They were shockedand disgusted when they found out what they were swimming in.
"We have small children out here, and they're more susceptibleto diseases than we are as adults, I mean it's ridiculous" said Navarreresident Lee Perry. Perry and his family packed up and left as soon as weshowed him the warning sign he missed on his way in.
The high bacteria count can cause gastro-intestinal illnesses,skin and respiratory infections, eye irritations, and rashes. Health officialssay children, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems may be moreat risk.
The Health Department monitors the area beaches and waterways on aweekly basis and updates the public on its website. The East Passis under a health advisory until further notice.
You can check regular status updates in Okaloosa Countyat this website:
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chdokaloosa/Services/Environmental_Health.html#Beach
SamplingResults History
No swimming: High levels of fecal bacteria found in East Pass
May 17, 2012 7:46 PM
JUSTIN HEINZE/ Daily News
DESTIN State health officials have issued an advisory to stay out of East Passbecause of unacceptable bacteria counts.
The latest water samples taken from the pass have shown unusually highlevels of fecal coliform bacteria, found in human and animal waste. That hasprompted the Florida Department of Health to issue a warning not to swim there.
Officials use fecal coliform as an indicator bacteria, meaning that itspresence is used to predict the likelihood of other dangerous bacteria.According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys website, such bacteriacan include typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis A, and cholera.
Theres a good shot (the high levels) were from storm water runoff, saidJulie Terrell, director of the Choctawatchee Basin Alliance. But you cant besure with just one test. Youd have to wait for more testing to go on.
During heavy rains such as the area has received recently, waste on theground can be washed into the water. Less frequently, sewers and septic tankscan overflow.
The Okaloosa County Health Department conducts weekly tests at 12 saltwaterbeaches. The tests conducted May 14 revealed that East Passhad 500 colonies of fecal coliform bacteria per 100-milliliter sample. Thewater is deemed poor if the colony count exceeds 399.
A poor rating for fecal coliform in East Passlast occurred in October. Only four advisories were released for that reason inall of 2011.
Such advisories are not unusual in OkaloosaCounty, but usually are issued forwaters farther inland from the Gulf of Mexico.For example, beaches at Liza Jackson Park in Fort Walton Beach, Lincoln Park in Valparaiso and RockyBayou State Park near Niceville frequently have bacteria levels comparableto what was recorded at East Pass on Monday.
East Pass also tested poor forenterococci, both in the latest sampling and a sampling average of the pastfive weeks. Enterococci specifically indicate the likelihood of bacteriacausing gastrointestinal illness.
The consistently high presence over the past five weeks could indicate acause other than runoff, but that cannot be known without additional testing.
That is unlikely because of the lack of a certified water quality lab inthe immediate area and the lack of funds to start one, Terrell said. Okaloosa County does tests for public safetypurposes, but routing out the deeper cause requires a more exhaustive analysis.
Those who brave East Pass with fecal coliformat its present levels face gastrointestinal illness, skin or respiratoryinfections, eye irritations and rashes.
Destin East Pass Under Health Advisory;Most Beach-Goers Unaware
Destin-Every single person we talked to Friday was unaware of the poor waterconditions in the East Pass. They were shockedand disgusted when they found out what they were swimming in.
Posted: 9:10 PM May 18, 2012
Reporter: Meagan O'Halloran
Some local swimmers received a shock Friday when they found outthey were swimming in contaminated water. The Health Department has issued anadvisory for East Pass in Destin due tohigh levels of fecal bacteria but many didn't know until she showed up with ourcameras.
Every single person we talked to Friday was unaware of the poorwater conditions in the East Pass. They were shockedand disgusted when they found out what they were swimming in.
"We have small children out here, and they're more susceptibleto diseases than we are as adults, I mean it's ridiculous" said Navarreresident Lee Perry. Perry and his family packed up and left as soon as weshowed him the warning sign he missed on his way in.
The high bacteria count can cause gastro-intestinal illnesses,skin and respiratory infections, eye irritations, and rashes. Health officialssay children, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems may be moreat risk.
The Health Department monitors the area beaches and waterways on aweekly basis and updates the public on its website. The East Passis under a health advisory until further notice.
You can check regular status updates in Okaloosa Countyat this website:
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chdokaloosa/Services/Environmental_Health.html#Beach
Okaloosa County EAST PASS |
SamplingResults History
Top of Form
Sample Period Start | Enterococcus | Enterococcus Geometric Mean | Fecal Coliform | Advisory / Warning Issued |
5/14/2012 | Poor | Good | Poor | Yes |
5/7/2012 | Good | Good | Good | No |
4/30/2012 | Good | Good | Good | No |
4/23/2012 | Good | Good | Good | No |
4/16/2012 | Moderate | Good | Good | No |
4/9/2012 | Good | Good | Good | No |
4/2/2012 | Good | Good | Good | No |
3/27/2012 | Good | Poor | Good | Yes |
3/19/2012 | Good | Poor | Good | Yes |
3/12/2012 | Poor | Poor | Good | Yes |
3/5/2012 | Moderate | Good | Good | No |
2/27/2012 | Poor | Good | Good | Yes |
2/20/2012 | Good | Good | Good | No |