The Department of Health’s – Florida Healthy Beach Program monitors coastal beach water by testing marine samples every two weeks from March through October in Pasco County. The purpose of the program is to determine whether Florida has any significant coastal beach water quality issues.
DOH-Pasco analyzes coastal beach water samples for enterococci, which normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. This type of bacteria is considered a potential risk because it may cause human disease, infections, or rashes. The presence of enterococci is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage. The EPA threshold for the presence of enterococci is no more than 70 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters of marine water.
Florida Healthy Beaches Program Categories are:
Good = 0-35 Enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water
Moderate = 36-70 Enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water
Poor = 71 or greater Enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water
For more information please visit: Florida Healthy Beaches