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Healthy Beach Report

By Crystal Steele

October 31, 2018

October 31, 2018
WALTON COUNTY WEEKLY BEACH
SAMPLING RESULTS
~Two 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.
Site Name Enterococci Water Quality
SP-1 Miramar Beach 4 Good
SP-3 Dune Allen Beach 20 Good
SP-4 Blue Mountain Beach 272 Poor
SP-5 Grayton Beach 4 Good
SP-7 Holly Street Beach 4 Good
SP-8 Eastern Lake Beach 220 Poor
SP-9 Inlet Beach Access 8 Good
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 Dune Allen beach access has been lifted.
Health Advisories have been issued for
Blue Mountain Beach and Eastern Lake Beach
accesses based on the enterococci standard recommended by the EPA. This should be
considered a potential health risk to the bathing public.

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
https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/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.
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Florida Department of Health please visit
www.FloridaHealth.gov.
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