It's a New Day in Public Health.

The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, & community efforts.

239.252.8200 All Locations

DOH-COLLIER ISSUES ADVISORY FOR SOME AREA BEACHES

By Arielle Myers

October 10, 2018

Press Release

Share This Page

Naples, Fla.—The Florida Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier) has posted HEALTH ADVISORIES for Wiggins Pass, Naples Pier, Residents Beach, South Marco Beach, Park Shore, Barefoot Beach, Vanderbilt Beach, and Seagate Beach after recent sampling showed bacteria levels in the water to be greater than 71 colonies per 100 milliliters of marine water, putting these beaches in the poor range.

Causes of the elevated level that prompted the advisory are unknown, but are generally associated with wildlife, heavy recreational usage, runoff following heavy rains, and high surf from high winds and high tides. DOH-Collier always encourages rinsing with fresh water after swimming in any natural body of water, and avoid swallowing any water while swimming. NOTE: Resampling date is dependent on weather/surf conditions due to Hurricane Michael.

DOH-Collier staff sample 12 points from Marco Island to Barefoot Beach and test for Enterococci bacteria, as recommended by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the EPA. Samples are laboratory tested for concentrations and a value assigned to indicate poor, moderate, or good ranges.

Date	Name	City	Result	Status
10/10/18	Wiggins Pass	Naples	Poor	Advisory Posted; Resample TBD
10/10/18	Vanderbilt Beach	Naples	Poor	Advisory Posted; Resample TBD
10/10/18	Park Shore	Naples	Poor	Advisory Posted; Resample TBD
10/10/18	Doctor's Pass	Naples	Good	Satisfactory
10/10/18	Lowdermilk Park	Naples	Good	Satisfactory
10/10/18	Naples Pier	Naples	Poor	Advisory Posted; Resample TBD
10/10/18	Hideaway Beach	Marco Island	Good	Satisfactory
10/10/18	Tigertail Beach	Marco Island	Good	Satisfactory
10/10/18	Residents Beach	Marco Island	Poor	Advisory Posted; Resample TBD
10/10/18	South Marco Beach	Marco Island	Poor	Advisory Posted; Resample TBD
10/10/18	Barefoot Beach	Naples	Poor	Advisory Posted; Resample TBD
10/10/18	Seagate	Naples	Poor	Advisory Posted; Resample TBD

United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recommended criteria for enterococci is:

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

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.