FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   Contact: Crystal Steele

June 9, 2015                                                                   850-892-8021, Ext 1139

WALTON COUNTY WEEKLY BEACH SAMPLING RESULTS

~ No Advisories Issued for This Sampling Period~

WALTON COUNTY -The Florida Department of Health in Walton County (DOH-Walton) conducts

regularly scheduled saltwater beach water quality monitoring at seven 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, which may cause human disease, infections, or rashes. The presence of enteric

bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets and wildlife,

and human sewage. The purpose of the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program is to determine whether

Florida has significant coastal beach water quality problems and whether future beach monitoring

efforts are necessary.

Site Name Enterococci Water Quality

SP-1 Miramar Beach 4 Good

SP-3 Dune Allen Beach 4 Good

SP-4 Blue Mountain Beach 4 Good

SP-5 Grayton Beach 4 Good

SP-7 Holly Street Beach 4 Good

SP-8 Eastern Lake Beach 4 Good

SP-9 Inlet Beach Access 4 Good

Water quality classifications are based upon United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s)

recommended criteria and Florida Healthy Beaches Program Categories:

Good = 0 - 35 Enterococci per 100 ml of marine

Moderate = 36 - 104 Enterococci per 100 ml of marine water

Poor = greater than 105 Enterococci per 100 ml of marine water

If you should have any questions, please contact DOH-Walton at (850) 892-8021 or visit the Florida

Department of Health’s Beach Water Quality website www.floridahealth.gov/healthy-environments/beach-water-quality/index.html

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