Source Information
Suncoast Waterkeeper is providing additional water quality data on levels of Enterococci bacteria for recreational swimming, fishing, and boating areas in coastal Sarasota and Manatee Counties.
This is part of a monitoring project to support recreational water resource users in these communities in their efforts to obtain accurate and up-to-date water quality information in areas with no official monitoring. Suncoast Waterkeeper staff collect the samples and bring them to a local third party water quality analysis company for data reports.
The standards followed are set by the Florida Department of Health, where counts of higher than 70 Enterococci per 100 millilitres of water are considered unsafe for wading, swimming, recreational water activities such as paddling and surfing, and shellfish consumption.
Water is sampled for Enterococci at all sites. Sampling occurs once a week on Tuesday year-round. Results are available 48 hours after samples are collected.
Test results are expressed # of units per 100 millilitres of water.
A beach is marked green (pass) when the sample results are equal or below 70 Enterococci / 100 ML water.
A beach is marked red(fail) when the sample results are above 70 Enterococci / 100 ML water, according to Florida's water quality guidelines.
Results are posted as soon as lab results are available. Results will be communicated through the Swim Guide websites and apps, as well as Suncoast Waterkeeper's website, Facebook page and other social media.
