Beaches

The Florida Department of Health in Collier County participates in the Florida Healthy Beaches Program to collect water samples from coastal beach locations on a routine basis. The program involves monitoring of the beaches and issuing health advisories if beach waters fail to meet required standards.

The goal of the program is to prevent waterborne illness by advising Collier residents and visitors against recreating in waters potentially contaminated with human pathogens.

Environmental specialists collect samples at twelve beaches throughout Collier County to sample for enterococci bacteria. High levels of this bacteria may indicate the presence of microorganisms that could cause disease, infections, or rashes if ingested while swimming or it enters the skin through a cut or sore.