2 Tampa Beaches Cleared For Swimmers

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area beachgoers can breathe a sigh of relief.

The Hillsborough County Health Department has officially lifted its advisories for Ben T. Davis and Picnic Island beaches. The department issued a warning on April 20 after water samples taken from both areas April 18 tested too high for enterococci bacteria.

“Follow-up testing was satisfactory based on the marine water bacterial indicator results as recommended by the EPA,” the agency announced Wednesday.

The county’s health department conducts coastal beach water quality monitoring at nine sites every week. Water is tested for “enteric bacteria (enterococci) that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals, which may cause human disease, infections, or rashes,” the email said. “The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage.”

For more information on the water quality at beaches throughout the state, visit the Florida Department of Health online.

Image via Shutterstock

Sign up for the Tampa Patch newsletter and alerts!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, too!