SARASOTA COUNTY – Sarasota County has posted no-swim advisories for Siesta Beach, North Lido Beach and the Lido Casino beach Thursday, after Aug. 8 water quality samples found the amount of enterococcus bacteria to exceed acceptable limits.
The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County took new water samples at the three beaches Thursday and expects the results to be available Friday afternoon.
Earlier beach warning: Sarasota County posts no-swim advisory at seven beaches
No sewage spills have been reported within one mile of the posted beaches in the past two weeks.
The beaches remain open but water recreational activities are not recommended when the advisories remain in place.
Signs advising the public not to swim or engage in water recreation will stay in place until follow-up water testing results meet the EPA’s recreational water quality standards.
Enterococcus bacteria can come from a variety of natural and human-made sources. These include pet waste, livestock, birds, land-dwelling and marine wildlife, stormwater runoff, and human sewage from failed septic systems and sewage spills.
Local health officials emphasize that beaches remain open. However, residents and visitors are urged not to wade, swim, or engage in water recreation at these beaches until the advisory is lifted.
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In addition, you should not eat shellfish such as crabs and shrimp collected in the immediate area of any beach with a no-swim advisory in place. Finfish caught live and healthy can be eaten if fileted.
To help keep beach water safe for swimming and recreation, do not allow pets to roam on beaches and in park areas and pick up pet waste. Additionally, children in diapers and people of all ages with diarrhea should not go into the water.
For more information: visit ourgulfenvironment.net and click on water monitoring and then bacterial testing to check beach water testing results of area Gulf beaches.
You can also call 941-BEACHES (941-232-2437) or visit visitbeaches.org. Click on the same link to the mobile-friendly version of the beach conditions report.
Visit Sarasota County also provides extensive information about the Sarasota area and its beaches at visitsarasota.org.
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission offers twice-weekly red tide updates at myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/, including a sampling map that is updated daily.
NOAA has a Gulf of Mexico HAB forecast (updated twice weekly while the bloom persists) that can be found at tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/hab/gomx.html.