SWIMMING ADVISORY ISSUED FOR MAIN ST BEACH AREA IN DAYTONA BEACH

DAYTONA BEACH - The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County has issued a swimming advisory for the Main Street area of the beach in Daytona Beach based on recent water sampling.

“We typically see elevated bacteria levels during this time of year due to increased migratory bird populations,” said Eric Maday, Environmental Specialist.

This site represents a small section of Volusia County’s coastline. The Healthy Beaches Program monitors 13 sites that span over 40 miles of beach area. Bacteria levels were lower at all other sites tested and the advisory is only for the area around this site. Advisory signs will be posted.

A swimming advisory means that contact with the water may pose an increased risk of infectious disease based upon Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria, and swimming is not recommended at this time.

This is a precautionary advisory and not a closure. Environmental Health experts say the spike in levels is a natural phenomenon. A spike has occurred every winter for the past several years. In every case, the levels have returned to the normal range in a matter of days or weeks.

Water samples are analyzed for enterococci bacteria. Enterococci bacteria can be found in the intestinal tract of humans and other animals. Associated bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illness, upper respiratory infections, or skin infections if open wounds or sores exist.

Water sampling will continue and the beach advisory will be lifted as soon as it is possible to do so.

Background information on the Aquatic Toxins Program and Florida Healthy Beaches Program can be found at: https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/aquatic-toxins/index.html