No swimming advisory issued for Yacht Club Beach
The Lee County Health Department has posted an advisory for the Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach, saying it is unsafe for swimmers due to high levels of bacteria identified in routine weekly testing.
Tests completed Tuesday indicate that the water quality at beach does not meet the safety criteria for enterococcus bacteria recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Florida Department of Health, officials said.
Water contact may pose an increased risk of disease, particularly for susceptible individuals.
The health department recommends not swimming at the river-front beach.
Enterococcus bacteria normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The presence of an elevated concentration of this bacterium is an indicator of pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets, wildlife, or sewage.
Elevated levels of enterococcus bacteria have been associated with an increased risk of swimming-associated gastroenteritis illness (diarrhea and abdominal pain).
This advisory will continue until bacteria levels are below the accepted EPA level. New test results for Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach will be in by 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29. A new round of water samples on all Lee County beaches will be taken Monday, Oct. 3, with results showing 24 hours later.
For more information, view the website at www.doh.state.fl.us select Services, Environmental Health, and then Healthy Beaches, or call the Lee County Health Department at (239) 274-2200 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Source: Lee County Health Department