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Walton County Weekly Beach Sampling Results

By Crystal Steele

June 28, 2016

June 28, 2016
WALTON COUNTY WEEKLY BEACH
SAMPLING RESULTS
~Two Advisories Issued for This Sampling Period~
Contact:
Crystal Steele
Crystal.Steele@flhealth.gov
850-892-8021 Ext. 1139
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 804 Poor
SP-3 Dune Allen Beach 4 Good
SP-4 Blue Mountain Beach 996 Poor
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 CFU per 100 ml of marine
Moderate = 36 - 70 Enterococci CFU per 100 ml of marine water
Poor = 71 or greater Enterococci CFU per 100 ml of marine water
Health Advisories have been issued for the Miramar Beach Accessand the Blue Mountain
Beach Accessbased on the enterococci standard recommended by the EPA. This should be
considered a potential health risk to the bathing public.
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/healthyenvironments/beach-water-quality/index.html.
About the Florida Department of Health
The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in
Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.
Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the
Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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