Health officials issue warnings against swimming when tests show too many bacteria in the water.
Miami Herald Archives
If you plan to swim near 53rd Street in Miami Beach, Florida health officials encourage you to go elsewhere until further notice due to the amount of feces in the water.
Two consecutive water samples taken at 5301 Collins Avenue, including one on Monday, did not meet recommended state requirements, the Miami-Dade County Health Department in Florida said at a news conference Wednesday.
The affected area is behind several condominiums, including Perigon, La Costa, The Amethyst and Imperial House, as well as Fire Rescue Station 3 and The Alexander Hotel.
The agency noted that the poor water quality was due to high levels of enterococci, an indicator of the presence of fecal matter in the water.
“The prevalence of gut bacteria is an indicator of fecal contamination, which can come from stormwater runoff, wildlife, pets, and human sewage,” the agency said. “Sampling results suggest that exposure to water may increase disease risk, especially in susceptible populations.”
For more information, visit the Florida Healthy Beaches program website at flhealth.gov.
This story was originally published on January 25, 2023 at 9:28 pm.
Omar is a bilingual and bicultural reporter covering breaking news in South Florida for the Miami Herald and New Herald. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Puerto Rico, Piedras.
