FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – A health advisory has been issued for Wayside Park on Okaloosa Island, said the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Okaloosa).
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The advisory is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended standards for enterococci. This should be considered a potential health risk to the bathing public, DOH-Okaloosa said in an announcement.
DOH-Okaloosa conducts bi-weekly saltwater beach water quality monitoring at 11 sites through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program. Samples are collected from March through the end of October.
The water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria (enterococci) that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals and may cause human disease, infections, or rashes. The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage.
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If you have questions, contact DOH-Okaloosa at 850-833-9247 or 850-689-7859. For sites, sampling results, and maps, click here.
