July 11, 2018

WALTON COUNTY WEEKLY BEACH SAMPLING RESULTS

~No Advisories Issued for This Sampling Period~

 Contact: Crystal Steele Crystal.Steele@flhealth.gov

850-892-8021

Walton County – The Florida Department of Health in Walton County (DOH-Walton) conducts regularly scheduled saltwater beach water quality monitoring at seven sites through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program. Samples are collected from March through the end of October. The water samples are 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 storm water 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 and whether future beach monitoring efforts are necessary.

Water quality classifications are based upon United States Environmental Protection Agency’s

(EPA’s) recommended criteria and Florida Healthy Beaches Program Categories:

 Good = 0 - 35 Enterococci CFU per 100 ml of marine

 Moderate = 36 - 70 Enterococci CFU per 100 ml of marine water

 Poor = 71 or greater Enterococci CFU per 100 ml of marine water

 The Heathy Advisory for Grayton Beach has been lifted.

 If you should have any questions, please contact DOH-Walton at (850) 892-8021 or visit the Florida Department of Health’s Beach Water Quality website  www.floridahealth.gov/healthy- environments/beach-water-quality/index.html

 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 Facebook, lnstagram and Twitter at @HealthyFia. For more information about the

Florida Department of Health please visit www.FioridaHealth.gov.