The Town of Palm Beach received a new water sample test and reopened the beaches this afternoon, Thursday, 2/21/2019.
Original Story:
Palm Beach Civic Association News Summary
MidTown Beach and Phipps Ocean Park were closed by the Town of Palm Beach because the Florida Department of Health found a high level of bacteria present in the water.
The Health Department considers this a potential health risk to the bathing public.
For more information on the beach closure, please contact Fire-Rescue’s Sean Baker at (561) 227-6433.
Town of Palm Beach News Alert
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County conducted a saltwater quality sampling at the Town of Palm Beach Midtown Beach on February 19, 2019. The water sample was examined for Enterococci bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals, and which may cause human disease, infections or rashes.
The presence of Enterococci bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage. The test result for Midtown Beach came back with a high Enterococci Level of 470 and thus a Water Quality Advisory is being issued by the Health Department for this beach. The Health Department considers this a potential health risk to the bathing public.
The Town of Palm Beach has taken the immediate action of closing Midtown Beach and Phipps Ocean Part to swimming and is working to have the water quality re-sampled in order to open the beaches as soon as possible.
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County has been conducting saltwater quality sampling since August 5, 2002 as part of the Florida Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program. The purpose of the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program is to determine Florida’s beach water quality.
For more information on the beach closure, please contact Sean Baker at (561) 227-6433. If you have any questions on the Florida Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County at (561) 274-3187 or (561)837-5988, or visit the Department of Health’s Internet Beach Water Quality website (www.doh.state.fl.us), click on the drop down arrow next to “Choose Subject” and then select “Beach Water Quality.”
