No Contact Advisory Remains In Effect For Shore Acres Waters

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- St. Petersburg water resources officials are continuing to advise residents and visitors against swimming in Placido and Grande Bayou, as well as any of the canals connecting to those basins.

Following testing of waters in and around an unauthorized discharge from a lift station at the intersection of Shore Acres Boulevard and Venetian Boulevard Northeast on Wednesday, Aug. 22, officials say the water is contaminated with bacteria.

Signs were posted immediately after the spill advising against swimming, fishing or playing in the waters nearby as samples are being fully tested.

Water samples taken at the lift station point-of-entry, Bayou Grande Boulevard NE Bridge and Venetian Boulevard NE bridge show enterococci and fecal coliform concentrations above acceptable levels.

"They exceeded the water quality criteria," said Water Resources Director John Palenchar, adding that this advisory and its widespread dissemination are all about ensuring public health and safety.

"We will continue to sample and test until the waters come back into the range of the Florida Healthy Beaches criteria," he said.

Water Resources will continue to update the findings as results are verified. A link to updated survey results can be found in the "incident response" layer of the city's interactive Recreational Water Quality map.

Image via St. Pete

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