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Okaloosa Saltwater Beach Monitoring Results for March 6, 2017
March 08, 2017
OKALOOSA COUNTY SALTWATER BEACH MONITORING RESULTS FOR MARCH 6, 2017
Contact: Ryan Mims
HealthyOkaloosaPIO@flhealth.gov
850-833-9240 ext. 2162
850-420-2198
Ft. Walton Beach, Fla– The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Okaloosa) conducts bi-weekly saltwater beach water quality monitoring at 11 sites through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program. Samples are collected from March through the end of October. The water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria (enterococci) that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals and which may cause human disease, infections, or rashes. The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage.
| Site | Name | City | Water Quality |
| SP-1 | Liza Jackson Park | Ft. Walton Beach | Poor |
| SP-2 | Garniers Park | Ft. Walton Beach | Good |
| SP-3 | Marler Park | Okaloosa Island | Good |
| SP-4 | Wayside Park (Gulf Site) | Okaloosa Island | Good |
| SP-5 | Poquito Park | Shalimar | Good |
| SP-8 | Lincoln Park | Valparaiso | Good |
| SP-9 | Henderson Beach (Gulf Site) | Destin | Good |
| SP-10 | Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park | Niceville | Good |
| SP-11 | James Lee Park (Gulf Site) | Destin | Good |
| SP-13 | Emerald Promenade (Gulf Site) | Okaloosa Island | Good |
| SP-14 | Clement E Taylor Park | Destin | Good |
The following water quality classifications are used by the Florida Department of Health and are based upon the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recommended standard for enterococci. The classification standard is as follows:
GOOD: 0-35 colony forming units (CFU) per 100 milliliters (ml) of marine water
MODERATE: 36-70 CFU per 100 ml of marine water
POOR: greater than 70 CFU per 100 ml of marine water
Health advisories are issued for sampling locations classified as POOR based on the EPA’s recommendation standards for enterococci. An advisory has been issued for Liza Jackson Park of Fort Walton Beach. This should be considered a potential health risk to the bathing public.
If you have questions, contact the DOH-Okaloosa County at (850) 833-9247 or (850) 689-7859. You can also visit www.HealthyOkaloosa.com and click the “Healthy Beaches” link to be taken to a list of Okaloosa County’s Healthy Beaches sites and map.
About the Florida Department of Health
The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.
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