TAMPA, FL. – A health advisory has been issued for Ben T Davis Beach due to high bacteria levels.
This should be considered a potential risk to the bathing public and swimming is not recommended. Samples taken were above the threshold for enterococci bacteria.
The beach will be re-sampled on or around Wednesday, July 14, 2021. When re-sampling indicates that the water is within the satisfactory range, the bacteriological health advisory will be lifted.
This notification is not for red tide, where a health alert has been issued for the following beaches: Picnic Islands, Davis Islands, E.G. Simmons, Bahia. Caution signs have been placed at Ben T. Davis and Cypress Point due to the presence of red tide and dead fish in the Tampa Bay area.
The map below contains the last eight days of sampling for red tide, which is carried out by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
An advisory is issued when the beach action value is 70.5 or higher. This is set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County has been conducting coastal beach water quality monitoring at nine sites once every two weeks since August 2000, and weekly since August 5, 2002, through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program.
The water samples are being analyzed for enteric bacteria (enterococci) that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals, which may cause human disease, infections, or rashes.
The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage. The purpose of the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program is to determine whether Florida has significant coastal beach water quality problems.
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