Picnic Island, E.G. Simmons Beach Water Advisories Issued

While bacteria levels have returned to normal at one Tampa Bay area beach, the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County has issued warnings for two others.

The newest advisory was issued Friday for Picnic Island Beach. Health department officials say the water tested beyond recommended levels for enterococci bacteria during a routine sampling. An advisory issued last week for E.G. Simmons Park Beach also remains in effect as re-testing there revealed continued unacceptable levels, an email from the agency stated.

The advisories, the health department wrote, “should be considered a potential risk to the bathing public.”

The samples in question were taken on Monday with the alerts issued on Friday after results came back into the agency. The waters will be resampled on Monday.

While those two beaches might be off limits to the swimming public, the health department reports the advisory for Bahia Beach that was issued July 8 has been lifted.

Enteric bacteria normally lives in the intestinal tracts of humans of animals. The bacteria may cause disease in humans, infections and rashes, the agency wrote.

“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 email said.